Q: Our only grandson will attend college in September. He is an excellent student. He is spending time with us on weekends before he leaves. He wants to hear the most important wisdom we have to share with him as adults. We are making a list for him. What advice do you have?

A: Do not expect life to be fair. Whatever occurs, react positively and move forward. Why waste time? Consider whatever happened a learning experience.

Strive for excellence, not perfection. Invest time in making friends and sharing thoughts and ideas for your future. And invest time in making and sharing your wishes and hopes. We are all challenged to keep our egos under control. Being humble can become very rewarding.

Choose a maker to respect and be humble. Miracles occur every day. Take time to recognize and be thankful for those moments.

We were not born to be alone. Look for a partner with whom you can share and love.

Laughing is one of the best medicines available. Plan a belly laugh every day. Laughter can help when you're out of your comfort zone and can change your attitude when you're upset. Make a habit of laughing at yourself. Life does not need to always be serious.

Being grateful, trusting, caring and loving should always be a part of your being and outlook. Hope, faith and good luck inspire us all.

Always remember we live in a world of constant change!

And recognize and work with the fact that, as Voltaire said, "Common sense is not so common." — Doug

ASKING FOR HELP

Q: Recently, I've found myself having difficulty managing my responsibilities. As I age, I've been having more trouble doing my accounting and taxes, as well as keeping track of my appointments. How can I turn it around?

A: If you're having trouble managing your life, the best thing you can do is reach out and ask for help. Because your current system isn't working, you can learn from others and ask them to help you.

One of the most difficult lessons for some of us is learning how to ask for help. Throughout our lives, what we all strive to do is create connections in the world — to connect with the others inhabiting our space. Draw on these connections.

Help can take many forms — shared work, organizational advice or even technological assistance. Your loved ones will want to help you.

Especially with financial matters, it can be hard to give up our privacy and independence. Whenever someone helps you, she brings her opinion with her. Sometimes it can feel like there are too many cooks in the kitchen! Be gracious with your loved ones, but remember that it's your life.

The most important thing to do is be patient with one another: You can both learn something.

In life, sometimes we feel we can't keep up. This is where our support systems come in. Change is the only constant, so make sure to embrace it!

As John Donne said, "No man is an island." — Emma, Doug's granddaughter

Doug Mayberry makes the most of life in a Southern California retirement community. Contact him at [email protected]. Betty is a friend of Doug Mayberry, whom she helps write this column. To find out more about Doug Mayberry and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Wilson Hui