So back to the life list:
1. This was about learning from your experiences. (See post before.) The overused saying that there is always a lesson to be gained is true. As simple as that.
2. Aaaah and then I made the point about looks. We are truly a visual society. Everything logical says it shouldn't matter and yet it still does.
3. Families are not prescriptive. No matter how messed up you think yours is there is another family round the corner that can beat it. If your family is wonderful there are also more wonderful families shining their light over yours. The point I am trying to make (although it seems to be taking a fair amount of time) is that you are not alone, defined by a family experience that seems to have no ending. To be in a family is to be part of life - good or bad. The crappy things will end and so will the good things. If it is possible, try to maintain family relations. There is a strange and wonderful strength in them. Blood ties connect you, are part of defining you and at times can sustain you. It is worthwhile to truly attempt an understanding of the family experience. A lot of your lessons will come from this sector.
4. Almost everything you can imagine will pass. Knowing this lets you keep your head above water during the crappy times and helps you appreciate the good times. When you are devoured by an experience that feels as if it will suffocate you, know it will pass. When you are feeling very ill and the pain is all over your body, it will pass. The state will change. It also helps keep things in perspective. I have another way of keeping perspective. I hold my wee until I am about to burst and then find a loo and release. Suddenly you realise your true priorities - number one is to wee.
5. There is a universal law at play. If you listen hard enough you can hear it whisper and you can see its machinations. The universe really does work with you. But you have to listen and you have to act. It follows the Newtonian law - for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The opposite isn't negative but a counterbalance to move you forward in a certain direction.
6. There are a lot of things in life that will feel like they have no meaning. It is up to you to give them meaning or discard them. Part of life's journey is being active in creating that journey. If you are predominantly passive, don't complain about what gets handed your way.

(A glass of water is screaming my name right now. The list is at odds with my bodily desires.)