Do you ever test yourself to see what you understand about life?

I mean really understand. Not trivia or theory or even what you think you believe. I mean the things you know for sure, deep down in your bones. Sometimes I ask myself what I’d say if I only had a few moments to share the greatest lessons I’ve learned. It’s a humbling exercise I assure you. And for me it’s been not only humbling but surprising.

I somehow always imagined the great fundamental truths of my life would look more like … well … more like great fundamental truths. Perhaps for some people they do, but my great truths look more like the stuff I was told when I was a child. So, in all honesty, it feels like the grand dissertation of my life should be written, not on parchment with a quill, but on bright yellow construction paper with a crayon.

Nevertheless, as embarrassing as it may be, when the bell rings you have to turn in your test. So here they are … four childlike truths … also, the only ones that came to mind this morning, but in their defense these are the truths that have had the greatest impact on my life thus far …

You don’t know much, so keep learning.
Life is hard, be kind.
We all need help, say, “Please.”
Life is a gift, say, “Thank you.”

Ignorance, kindness, humility and gratitude. These have been and continue to be the source of everything truly good in me.

An awareness of how very little I know about anything, or will ever know, or can ever know, keeps me growing, keeps me learning, keeps me open and keeps me young at heart. When you are ignorant and not ashamed of it, all of life becomes your sandbox.

The acknowledgement of how small and feeble and imperfect and what a mess I am in the face of all of life’s immensity and challenges keeps me aware of how how much grace and space and forgiveness and patience I need to give myself, and everyone else around me.

An awareness of all the help I’ve received throughout the years, how many shoulders I’m standing on, how many times I’ve been picked up when I’ve fallen down, how many doors have been opened, keeps me in my place and keeps me connected to others.

And finally, life is a gift. That’s just a simple fact. I didn’t ask to be here. I didn’t plan to be here. I didn’t earn the right to be here. I didn’t have the power to get here on my own. I was given the gift of life. Keyword: Given. My life was a gift in that very first moment, and in the moment after that, and in every moment from then until now.

So there they are …

You don’t know much, so keep learning.
Life is hard, be kind.
We all need help, say, “Please.”
Life is a gift, say, “Thank you.”

For me, the degree to which I am humble and grateful is the degree that I properly understand my place in the universe. They may only ever be kindergarten truths written in crayon, but they are the foundation upon which I continue to learn and love and build myself a beautiful life.