Risha's Law

If there is one person I want to be more like, it would be Risha. She lives in a beautiful yurt with her puppy, works at a hospital and taught me how to swing dance. Risha was my counselor at Camp MiVoden in Idaho about 9 years ago now. But as life so happens, she's become one of my closest friends during the past 6 years I've lived in Walla Walla. Her spirit of love for the outdoors, animals, adventure, creativity, independence and God; they all inspire me. She allowed me to come to her when I was young and dump all my insecurities out on the kitchen table so we could sort through them together. I'm not sure if she wrote these little life rules, but she exemplifies them all. 

1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Memorize your favorite poem.
3. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
4. When you say, "I love you", mean it.
5. When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.
6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
7. Believe in love at first sight.
8. Never laugh at anyone's dreams.
9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt, but it's the only way
to live life completely.
10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
11. Don't judge people by their relatives.
12. Talk slow, but think quick.
13. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and
ask, "Why do you want to know?"
14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
15. Call your mom.
16. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
17. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
18. Take one day at a time.
19. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; respect for others;
responsibility for all your actions.
20. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
21. Get organized so everything has its place.
22. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to
correct it.
23. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your
voice.
24. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, his/her
conversational skills will be as important as any other.
25. Spend some time alone.
26. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
27. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
28. Read more books and watch less TV.
29. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back,
you'll get to enjoy it a second time.
30. Trust in God, but lock your car.
31. A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to
create a tranquil harmonious home.
32. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
33. Read between the lines.
34. Talk less; listen more.
35. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
36. Be gentle with the earth.
37. Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.