Wow, this happened while I was on hiatus, and there were definitely some quality n00bs that didn't stick around. Huh.
It also makes a little more sense to me why you guys thought A-CAP was a troll at first. He has certainly mellowed with age.
Just on the off chance anyone cares, here are my 15:
1) We're put on this earth to learn stuff, but not the stuff we're usually focused on. I believe that we're here to learn about relationships, and that every type of relationship we have with another person teaches us something about our relationship with God. Parent/child (in either direction), husband/wife, peer/peer. Even the difficult people with whom we struggle to get along can show us, if we're reflective enough, that we, too, fall short and must sometimes seem unloveable -- therefore, how much greater the glory of God that he can forgive us and love us in spite of ourselves? (Personal philosophy; YMMV.)
2) Sometimes, though, not knowing stuff (or trying to forget you know it) is advantageous. Watching my kids try and figure out the way the world works has taught me that if you don't know the rules of the game, you're much freer to be creative and invent your own rules. Knowledge is power, but it can also limit the number of things you can think of to do with that power.
3) Writing, drawing, playing an instrument, and singing are similar in that anyone can learn to do them, but some people are born with a knack.
4) Nothing is as important to other people as it is to you. Therefore, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.
5) Your dreams belong to you; nobody else is responsible for making them happen.
6) There are worse things than failure and rejection. For instance, allowing the fear of failure and rejection to rule your life.
7) You can have either time or money, but never both. If you want to free up some time, you're going to have to spend some money (on hiring someone else to care for your kids, yard, or house; on buying convenience foods or eating out instead of cooking; flying to visit relatives instead of driving across four states). But you can save a lot of money by spending time on them (repairing the toilet yourself instead of hiring a plumber; taking an hour a week to clip coupons; learning how to change the oil in your car). The trick is to find the balance that works best with your life.
8) If you own something but don't use it, you're not just cluttering up your house/attic/storage unit. You're depriving someone else of the use of that item, someone who would appreciate it for its true value. Hoarding is selfish; give up your stuff and don't look back.
9) It's just as wasteful to stuff food into your mouth after you're full as it is to throw it in the trash can.
10) Go to the doctor once a year, even if you're not sick. Take your car in for its regularly scheduled maintenance, and see a therapist every now and then to keep your head on straight.
11) Don't take other people's decisions personally. If someone chooses a different path from yours, it doesn't mean they think you're wrong, but if you try to push your decisions on them, you will be.
12) There are three things a child can never get enough of: crayons, paper, and praise.
13) Sometimes you have to apologize even when the other person is wrong.
14) Turn the other cheek.
15) Judge not, lest ye be judged.