Ralph Waldo Emerson Challenge: Day 1

I have committed to a 30 day challenge via the Domino Project. Today's prompt: Write the story that must be written. I have 15 minutes. The timer is set and running.

My assumption is I only have 15 minutes to speak my piece. I would address my family and friends with these charges:

1. Love someone for who they are. Do not be angry with someone for who they are not.
      I have heard way to often, "So and so is great, if I could just change a few things..."  Newsflash: if you are talking about an adult those things aren't going to be changed. It is a take it or leave it proposition. If you plan on keeping the things you like and changing the things you don't, good luck. This is no way to love. Love it all or not at all.

2. Charge ahead, no regrets and don't look back.
     Hindsight is better than 20/20. When faced with a decision, mull over the options, evaluate the positive and negative. Then make your decision, charge full speed ahead and accept the consequences good, bad or in between. Forget "If I had known..." or "I should have..." In both cases you didn't so make your decision work.

3. When facing an opponent with a different viewpoint, view the situation thru your opponents eyes.
      This problem is all around. Two opposing viewpoints choose to air their differences by restating their own viewpoint in ever increasing volume and bombast. If you want to get somewhere, argue your opponents view and walk a mile in their shoes. That's the beginning of finding common ground.

4. Embrace all you have.
     There are those with more and those with less. Always, Cherish what you have. It may not be all that you'll have forever, but it's what you have today.

Would love feedback from all. What would you charge your loved ones? What did I miss or should have left out? Hey, if I ever only get 15 minutes, I want to get it right.  There's the timer.