If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look something like the following:

There would be:

57 Asians
21 Europeans
14 from the Western Hemisphere, both north and south
8 Africans

52 would be female
48 would be male

70 would be non-white
30 would be white

70 would be non-Christian
30 would be Christian

89 would be heterosexual
11 would be homosexual

6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth (and all 6 would be from the United States.)

80 would live in substandard housing
70 would be unable to read
50 would suffer from malnutrition
1 would be near death; 1 would be near birth
1 (yes, only 1) would have a college education
1 would own a computer

Many people will walk in and out of your life,
But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

To handle yourself, use your head;
To handle others, use your heart.

If someone betrays you once, it is his fault;
If he betrays you twice, it is your fault.

Great minds discuss ideas;
Average minds discuss events;
Small minds discuss people.

He who loses money, loses much;
He who loses a friend, loses much more;
He who loses faith, loses all.

Learn from the mistakes of others.
You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

Always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

My friend opened the drawer of his wife's chest and took a packet wrapped with nice paper: "This, he said, this is not any packet, it is lingerie." He threw away the paper and he observed the beautiful silk and embroidery. "We bought it the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago. She never used it. She was keeping it for a special occasion. "Well I think this is the right occasion." He went close to the bed and he put it next to the other things he was going to bring to the funeral home.

His wife had just died. Turning towards me he said: "Do not keep anything for a special occasion, every day that you live is a special occasion."

I am still thinking of his words, they have changed my life.

• Now I read more and clean less.
• I sit on the terrace and admire the view, with noticing the weeds in the garden.
• I spend more time with my family and friends and less time working.
• I understand that life is a succession of experiences to be enjoyed, not survival.
• I do not keep anything anymore.
• I use my crystal glasses every day.
• I wear a new jacket to go to the supermarket, if I so decide or if I feel like it.
• I no longer keep my best perfume for special events. I use it anytime I want to.
• The word 'someday' has disappeared from my vocabulary.

• Give to people more than they expect and do it with grace.
• Learn by heart your favorite poem.
• Do not believe everything you hear, do not spend all you have and do not sleep as much as you would like.
• When you say "I love you", mean it.
• When you say "I am sorry" look at the other in the eyes.
• Keep an engagement of at least six months before getting married.
• Believe in love at first sight.
• Do not ever make fun of other peoples' dreams.
• Love deeply and with passion. You may get hurt but it is the only way to live life fully.
• In case of disagreements be fair.
• Do not judge others by their parents.
• Speak slowly but think fast.
• If someone asks you a question you do not want to answer, smile.
• Remember that the biggest loves and major successes entail greater risks.
• Call your mother
• Say "bless you" if someone sneezes
• When you lose, do not forget the lesson.
• Remember the three R's: Respect towards yourself, Respect towards others, and Responsibility for all your actions.
• Do not allow a small misunderstanding to damage a big friendship.
• When you realize you have made a mistake, correct it immediately.
• Smile when you answer the phone, who calls you will hear it in your voice.
• Get married with a man/woman that likes conversation. When you are old, your ability to converse will be more important than any other.
• Spend some time in solitude.
• Open your arms to change, but do not throw away your values.
• Remember that silence sometimes is the best answer.
• Read more books and watch less TV.
• Live a good and honorable life. Later on when you will be old and you will remember the past, you will see that you will be able to live it a second time.
• Trust in God but lock your car.
• A loving mood at home is important. Do everything you can to create a loving, harmonious and relaxed atmosphere.
• When in disagreement with your loved ones, give importance to the present situation.
• Do not bring up the past.
• Read between the lines.
• Share your friends, it is a way to reach immortality.
• Be kind with the Earth.
• Do not ever interrupt one that shows you affection or kindness
• Take care of your business.
• Do not trust a man or a woman that does not close their eyes when you kiss them.
• Once a year visit a place you have never been before.
• If you make a lot of money give to help others while you are still alive. This is the best satisfaction that good fortune can give you.
• Remember that not obtaining what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
• Learn all the rules and then infringe some.
• Remember that the best relationship is the one in which the love between two people is bigger than the need you have for one another.
• Judge your success in relation to what you must renounce to obtain it.

• I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. 
• I would have talked less and listened more. 
• I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. 
• I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. 
• I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. 
• I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day   because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. 
• I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. 
• I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life. 
• I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
• Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
• When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."
• There would have been more "I love you"s. More "I'm sorry"s...