instructions for life

i want to reprint this here so that i can have a record of it as constant reminder to me. if i were to leave instructions to my kids when i pass from this earth, the following words pretty much sums up everything that i'd want to leave them with. and that no matter what, i will always love them.
1. take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risks.
2. when you lose, don't lose the lesson.
3. follow the three r's:

• respect for self,
• respect for others and
• responsibility for all your actions

4. remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. don't let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
7. when you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. spend some time alone every day.
9. open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
10. remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. live a good, honorable life. then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. a loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. in disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. don't bring up the past.
14. share your knowledge. it is a way to achieve immortality.
15. be gentle with the earth.
16. once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
17. remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
19. approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.
20. don't be afraid to take that first step. and the subsequent steps will magically appear.