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The words in the headline above are included on hundreds of websites…from those promoting health and nutrition; to personal blogs; to religious based organizations.

But it doesn’t matter who is sharing these words, please note just how true they are.

As we grow older, and hence wiser, we slowly realize that wearing a $300 or $30 watch is the same as they both tell the same time.

Whether we carry a $300 or $30 wallet/handbag, the amount of money inside is the same.

Whether we drink a bottle of $30 or $3 wine, the hang over remains the same.

Whether the house we live in is 300 or 3,000 square feet, the loneliness is the same.

Whether we watch TV on a 70-inch monster screen or an 18-inch portable, the shows are the same.

You will realize that your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world.

Whether you fly first or economy class, if the plane goes down you will go down with it.

It doesn’t matter if you drive a car with a sticker price in the six figures or an old, beat-up clunker that you couldn’t pay someone to steal, if you wreck it, you wreck it.

We’ve all heard the old saying….money isn’t everything. But I encourage you to see deeper into that saying: Money can buy you a bed, but not restful sleep; it can buy you a clock, but not time; it can buy you a book, but not knowledge; it can buy medicine, but not health; it can buy you sex, but not love; it can be used to buy your way up the ladder of success, but it doesn’t purchase respect; and it can buy you blood, but not life.

Therefore, I hope you realize when you have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, who you chat with, laugh with, talk with, sing songs with, talk about north-south-east-west or heaven & earth; that is true happiness.

I hope you can proudly say that you hope your home to too small to accommodate all your friends.

And there are friends and true friends. The latter is someone who came into your life, saw the most negative part of you, but will not leave you. A true friend is also someone you’ll find when you fall down, they’re the ones who pick you up, who don’t judge, and you had to fall down to see them.

And always take note of when you get up again, remember who your true friends really are.

Yes, you can respect someone that finds the time in their busy schedule to help you out, but the love of a friend is found when they never glance at their schedule who you really need them.

Quoting self-help guru Edmond Mbiaka, “Some friends would persuade you to buy a lot of expensive materialistic things, but wouldn’t dare to give you a single dime if you were to find yourself in a financial crisis. So be very careful my dear friends, and stay clear from people who push you to live beyond your means. They are definitely not in your life to favor your destiny.”

There are five undeniable facts of life:

#1: Don’t educate your children to be rich. Rather, educate them to be happy, so when they grow up they will know the value of things and not the price of things.

#2: Eat your food as your medicines. Otherwise you have to eat medicines as your food.

#3: The one who loves you will never leave you because even if there are 100 reasons to give up, he or she will find one reason to hold on.

#4: There is a big difference between a human being and       being human. Only a few really understand that.

#5: You are loved when you are born. You will be loved when you die. In between, you have to manage!

And always remember that if you want to walk fast, then walk alone; but if you want to walk far, walk together!

Last, but not least, the best doctors in the world are, in order, sunlight, rest, exercise, diet, self confidence, and friends. Maintain them in all stages of your short existence here on Earth and enjoy a healthy life!

Cal Bryant is Editor of Roanoke-Chowan Publications. Contact him at cal.bryant@r-cnews.com or 252-332-7207.