Last month I was blessed to have reached a milestone in my life—a 70th birthday. It is so hard for me to look in a mirror and accept that number. Now I know that acceptance is a key to running a smoother life and a contributing corner stone of a well-balanced personality, but 70! I still feel 20-something.

My all-time favorite text books from my all-time favorite college course “Interpersonal Communications” was Looking Out, Looking In. A self-discovery view of how to develop and fit into a moral society. Well, I’m happy to report to myself that at 70, looking out at the world, I still feel like a kid. Still working on the inside and caring about the outside.

I also have an enormous amount of gratitude to have reached 70. There have been times when it was really questionable. As they say, “Life is a journey” and along the way I had to learn a lot the hard way. But life has been good to me, and I hope that continues for a long time. With good health, hitting 100 sounds terrific.

Along the way, I’ve become aware of a few things. I wish I could have known these things 45 years ago, for my sake, as well as for my children (ages 44 to 11), but I needed life to teach me what is really important. Here is only a small sample of what I discovered when I started paying attention.

• Believe in yourself, and take good care of you
• Don’t judge others; you do not have that right
• Treat all people with respect
• Smile often, society needs it
• Risk Love
• Always take Full Responsibility for yourself
• Accept life as it is delivered to you
• Be humble
• Remember being right is, not always that important
• Be real, be you, be honest
• Make mistakes
• Take risks
• Help others
• Be grateful; every day is a gift
• Stand for something
• Know your human rights
• Have empathy
• Learn to meditate
• Watch what you eat, I still believe it is key to good health
• Question what needs to be questioned
• Make a difference in the world
• Live with passion
• Nurture your soul
• Hug a lot of people, especially your family
• Develop integrity
• Be a lifelong learner, saver, and memory maker for yourself, and your family
• Chill out. Worry will never put another day on your life
• Remember “It is not what you know in life that is important; It is what you do with what you know that matters.”

I had to learn that I was responsible for my own happiness—one of my life’s lessons. You see, I was always looking for you, or someone to fix me, to make me feel better, happier. I wanted someone else to make life softer, easier but that was just a dream. I should have been looking in rather than looking out. Today I know that “I am responsible for me,” for my thoughts, behaviors, actions, and decisions. Now that I know, finally at my new age, I realize I wouldn’t have it any other way. Because it also means that you are responsible for you, and I do not have to shoulder that responsibility.

So I’m glad that 70 is the new 50. I still have time to develop, learn and grow, and make progress in my life’s wonderful journey.

May all the love in your life continue to grow.

In peace, love and laughter, Joe