In March 2026, I posted Pearls of Wisdom – and based on feedback from friends, I decided to publish a sequel, as I am constantly logging interesting blurbs when I hear them for future use in my writings.

DISCLAIMER: No Copyright Infringement Intended. I want to share the Pearls below (NOT my words – I do not remember their printed origin, nor where I may have heard most of them).

The Bulleted (BOLD) list below is my collection of these Pearls of Wisdom, along with ‘my soap-box’ (Italics) comments.

  • Your apology (for whatever) is only meaningful if you truly intend to ensure that it will never happen again.

Everyone has apologized for something, sometime in their lives; and often multiple times, for the same or different trigger events. Next time you have to apologize, pause first. Are you apologizing to just move on, OR have you considered your role in the trigger event and are sincere that you will not repeat whatever you are just apologizing for?

  • It is OK for your kid/child to lose sometimes – they do not need to win always.

All parents always want the best for their kids. They take immense pride in their successes and wins, as they grow up. Remember, nothing in life is monotonically moving in one direction. The weather, stock market, one’s emotional state, etc., all go up and down. Let your kids fail once in a while; support them and let them learn from their mistakes. Every loss/fall will mean more successful wins/recovery in the future. Prepare them to grow their wings and fly out of the proverbial nest one day, on their own.

  • It is not the load that kills you; it is how you carry it, that does.

Everyone is living their lives with their own ‘load’ on their backs. Some breeze through, in spite of their load, while some always complain about how heavy their load is. Learn to carry your load responsibly, as others around you are probably doing. So, instead of it killing you, accomplish key goals that will empower you and lighten your load. Laws of physics dictate that pulling (reducing friction) is easier than pushing, as it lightens your load. Re-assess how you are carrying your personal load also, and learn to lighten it.

  • Accept the things you CANNOT change, and move on. 

Focus on what is in your control – your life, family, profession, friends, skills and abilities, etc. All of us are immersed in an environment that we often cannot control/change. For example, the weather, politics, manager at work (of course you can look for a new job ☹), unexpected (bad) health news, life choices made by adult children, personal calamities, etc. Pondering over things you cannot control/change only slows you down and impacts what you can control. Let the ‘cannot change’ stuff fall by the wayside, and stay focused on the can-do path you can navigate forward.

  • When someone calls others dumb and stupid – it sticks with them for life.

No one has the right to talk down to someone else, however incorrect they may be, OR, if they take more time than others, to understand/follow something. Particularly, when done in a public environment – this will cause deep and long-lasting harm to the person’s mind-set/psyche. It also speaks volumes about the depravity of the person calling someone else dumb and stupid. Such behavior is not good for either side.

  • He who fights and runs away – lives, to fight another day. 

The word ‘fight’ here is symbolic for all the various travails we have to overcome in our daily lives, from our childhood, teenage to adulthood. Always know your limitations. All fights cannot be won. Some have to be fought to enrich one’s personal growth and experiences. Some, you may have to walk/run away from if the resulting end goal is not in your life-path. Ego should not compel you to stay on. There will be other challenges which you may want to pursue; another day, another time, and triumph over.

  • Do you want a bigger piece of a small pie, or, a smaller piece of a bigger pie – which may grow bigger in the long run?

Somehow, seeking instant gratification is for quite a few of us – deeply embedded in our thinking. Oftentimes, we may want as large a gratification as possible, right away; even if the pie is still small and not fully cooked. In financial terms, this might apply to the stock market, business investments, etc. At a personal level, enjoy all you get of the unconditional love of your young children. Perhaps, with the right nurturing, you may reap the benefits of greater love and attention from your adult children for a longer time 😊

  • The harder you work, the luckier you get.

Winning big at the casino clearly has more to do with “lady luck” than hard work. Success at the personal and professional levels requires commitment and lots of hard work – with your sights set on the long-term goals. There will be failures, and the successes will be hard-earned. The world may say “how lucky you are” – believe me; it was the fruits of your hard work and not ‘lady luck’

  • The force behind you is far greater than the challenges ahead of you.

Who has not faced, often times unsurmountable challenges ahead of them? If you believe in yourself and your abilities, you will have the necessary ‘force’ to power on and overcome the challenges. Remember, in such times, you will have the force of your family, friends, and others, along with your efforts to cross the challenge hurdles facing you.

  • Never let anyone tell you who you are – Show them who you are.

As we grow up – childhood through teenage years to adulthood, there is no shortage of everyone around you attempting to describe/limit you and your abilities, and who you can become. Only you know who you are, and what your abilities will let you achieve. So DO NOT let others define you. Believe in yourself and let your success and achievements speak for you.

  • It takes courage to not be discouraged – Ben Ferencz.

This quote is from Benjamin Ferencz – Presiding Judge of the Nuremberg Trials after WW-2, at the age of 27; and his first case as a Harvard lawyer. Given the enormity of the task ahead of him and the mountains of data to be analyzed – his quote suddenly becomes very relevant. For everyone – let your courage drive you forward when faced with an overwhelming task, that may discourage you from moving forward.

  • Be kind to all you meet, for each is carrying a heavy burden – Plato.

Most of the time, we are preoccupied with our own burden of personal, professional, and other issues. Very often we do not consider that all around us, everyone else also is living with a bent back and a heavy load of their own. Some of our load is ONLY ours to carry, and no one else can help us. Be cognizant of this and spread your kindness to lighten everyone’s load.

  • We all hold onto things we want to be true, even when we know they are not. 

Learning to move on is probably one of life’s early lessons we all need to internalize. Very often, we are so invested in something – relationships, personal/professional goals, etc., that even though in our hearts we know we can never achieve them, we do not let go. Remember all the emotional energy we invest in re-examining all the “what-ifs” in our lives, at the cost of not moving on. The result is that it takes away from our future endeavors and goals

  • Lead, follow, OR get out of the way – Ted Turner.

I love this statement. This clearly identifies 3 categories of human beings. There is a smaller group of Leaders, whom the majority accept as capable of leading them. The lead function could be in any field – sports, politics, business, education, etc. The large majority of us are followers. This is perfectly fine and in sync with the saying – “There can only be one chef in a kitchen, with the rest being the cooks”. The leader-follower paradigm forms the foundation of modern society. The 3rd category – possibly ‘wannabe leaders’ often create obstructions and need to get out of the way of the leaders-followers – for the good of society.

  • Lead with the power of your example, and NOT by the example of your power.

This statement is so true in our politics and business today. It also applies to anyone in a power position who may have the sole authority in making decisions that impact other lives. It is so easy to brandish the sword or the pen from a power position to move things in the direction the leader likes. It takes born/real leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, among others, to dedicate their lives and exemplify their power by becoming a shining beacon for others to follow.