I think wisdom can be given by a person of any age or gender, but as a woman turning 40 I was really grateful to hear these experienced lessons from a 44-year-old woman. Below are a few of them. — CD  

• Start or end every day with writing about your life. There’s always something buried underneath the to do list in your head, something you didn’t realise you felt, that when written down, will make everything clearer.

• Allow friendships to come and go. Don’t cling onto friendships because they are old. Cling on to them because they bring you joy and comfort and laughter.

• The small details of your day matter. Be it your first cup of coffee in the morning,  or the way you make your bed, or a walk through the park on the way to work, life is year upon year of stacked up small joys like these. Take pleasure and pride in them.

• Put your phone down.
  Put your phone down.
  Put your phone down.

Nicolas, a designer at GitHub, maintains a list of quotations that he shares on his personal website. Most of them are new to me, and many are inspiring or provocative. Examples:

• “Be careful what you cast out — the vacancy is quickly filled”  — Austin Osman Spare

• “Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.” — Voltaire

• “There is no product or service more ecological, sustainable and recyclable as the one we do not use.” — Philippe Bihouix

• Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again. — André Gide

– MF

Seth Godin's advice for the “Amateur Presenter” is excellent advice if you ever find yourself called to give a public talk. Seth says focus on passion and purpose rather than professional polish. It's natural to be nervous, particularly if you're not a seasoned presenter — don't apologize for it. Having something interesting to say is more important than perfect delivery. Instead of trying to engage everyone in the room, find one person who seems receptive to your message and speak as though you're having a conversation with them. — MF