Mr Teece's Twenty Two Tips for Life

Mr Teece, a teacher at Miss Hissy's school, retired this year. At the school assembly held in his hounour, he read out his recipe for a successful life.

I have taken the liberty of posting Mr Teece's Twenty Two Tips for Life. It's not Desiderata, but who needs to revisit the '70s? Not moi.

I'm sure Mr Teece wouldn't mind people hanging his words of wisdom on the back of the toilet door.

1. Get to know the real you - your strengths, your weaknesses, your values and beliefs, things you hold dear.

2. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

3. Work at something you enjoy and that's worthy of your time.

4. Be forgiving of yourself and others.

5. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

6. Be generous.

7. Have a grateful heart.

8. Try to always view the glass as half full - not half empty.

9. When sorrow or misfortune strike ask yourself, "Do I want to be bitter or get better?"

10. Persistence, persistence, persistence.

11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.

12. Commit yourself to quality.

13. Happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige but on relationships with people you love and respect.

14. Be honest.

15. Be a self starter.

16. Be decisive even it means you might sometimes be wrong.

17. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.

18. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.

19. Take good care of the ones you love.

20. Don't do anything that wouldn't make your mum/dad proud.

21. Treat everyone you meet the way you would like to be treated.

22. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90 per cent of your happiness or misery.