I have started a list of rules and ideas to live by, look them over add more if you feel compelled to and how many are you living by? and how do you feel living by them? the following is the list:

Don’t want more than you can have or you’ll become a prisoner of your wants.

Don’t have more than you can use; anything more is waste.

Don’t run from love; run to it.

See the miracles around you.

Don’t be afraid to be better, be afraid to be worse.

Don’t rule; lead.

Don’t live today like its your last; plan on being here tomorrow. Just in case today isn’t your last.

A cause should be lived for; not died for.

You don’t always have to be right; just never be wrong. If you have to be wrong just smile and enjoy knowing you’re not perfect.

Don’t lie to anyone because eventually you’ll lie to yourself. Accept the truth about yourself.

It is possible to change the world; you just have to do it one person at a time.

Don’t be too proud to be sorry.

Watch your children being born.

Be silly for you children.

Know that we are all role models to someone; whether we want to be or not.

If you can’t have it; don’t want it.

Let go of the hurt and make room for the healing.

Love is not political.

As much as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is ugly in the eye of the beholder.

Tell her she’s beautiful, not because she made you tell her, but because you want to.

Take a chance, if you don’t, someone else will. Don’t live life wondering  “ what if “

Don’t hurt people verbally and then defend yourself by proclaiming that you always speak your mind. If there is no value in the words or sentiment consider where else you lack value.

Be generous.

Believe in God no matter how much life tries to convince you he doesn’t exist.

Be a person of honor.

Be happy.

Stand up for those who can’t; speak up for those who can’t.

Children are gifts never to be returned.

Be patient.

Watch your children sleep.

Have a good cry.

Have a good laugh.

"Believe in God no matter how much life tries to convince you he doesn’t exist."

"Watch your children sleep."

Great list.  These would be my two favorite rules on the list.  The only thing I would have to add is:
Don't dwell on the things that worry you.  It won't change anything, and will only serve to make you sick.

here's some more to add to my list.

  Be forgiving, if you don't know how, LEARN.

  Trust

  Don't let your children be afraid.

  Teach your children, teach all children.

  Fight for your children, even when you think you can't fight no more.

  Don't look for love, let it find you.

  So you didn't marry a 10. Tell your mate you married a 10 +10.

  Learn to THINK!

  Hey Dag, I agree with you, and to quote my Brooklyn self, "DON'T WOOORY ABOUD IT"

Live every day to the fullest because you never know when it could be your last.

Expect little to avoid disappointment.

Trust Nobody.

Cover your nose with a tissue or your hand when you sneeze.

Don't ever watch "The Lawnmower Man" unless you wish to be mentally scarred for the rest of your life.

Wear sunscreen.

"Believe in God no matter how much life tries to convince you he doesn’t exist."

"Watch your children sleep."

Great list.  These would be my two favorite rules on the list.   <----QUOTE


Of course, these don't apply to atheists or people who don't have children, lol.  :P
Oh, and Heathcliff - I've survived watching the Lawnmower Man without so much of a scar, so MY rule would be as follows:

Don't believe in horror movies.
8)

...and for that matter,
Don't believe anything you see on television, full stop. Even documentaries are usually one-sided and omit important information. And I'm sure everyone here will have seen countless cases of different news stations reporting the same headlines with substantially different statistics. Watch it for the entertainment value instead.

  I am humbled by your list.

  Thank you.
I do try and as Moparnut says, "teach the children".
and I did watch my sister sleep as a baby, because she was often in my care.
  I love watching my pets sleep too. But i never can keep from laughing when they smile or whine or run in their sleep. It's like a natural comic strip! watching a dog run in her sleep after the neighbor cat!
    **here's one to add.
  Don't waste water--some people are still getting sick because they don't have access to clean filtered water like we do in industrial nations.
    Be thankful, not wasteful.  If you have too much of something--share the wealth .    when things get rough--remember it could always be worse.
  And if you believe in God, He never sends more than you can handle.  Often he sends the hardship your way because you are stronger than someone else --so don't ask "why me" so often. Maybe the phrase should be "why not me".