A wise and wonderful tip from the Legacy Project.

Life doesn’t come with a roadmap to follow, but the closest thing may be the inspiringLegacy Project. Launched in 2004 by Karl Pillemer, a popular professor at Cornell University, the Legacy Project systematically collects spirited advice from America’s elders.

The project originally contacted 1,500 older Americans who had lived through extraordinary experiences and historical events and asked them to share their most important life lessons. Looking back on their long lives, they couldn’t always agree on everything, but virtually all the elders chose some variation of the following advice as one of their most important lessons:

“Say yes when things come your way. You will always regret the things you didn’t do more than the things you did do.”

What a great reminder. If you think about it, saying yes to life is really saying yes to yourself. “Yes” opens the door to new ideas and experiences, lets the light in, attracts kindred spirits to your journey, launches dreams and new beginnings, builds anticipation, invites great adventures and, of course, spares you from later regrets.

True, “Yes” can also lead to disruptive changes, risk, difficulties and potential trouble, but “No” usually leads nowhere.

Starting this week, say yes to life more often and see where it leads you.

Remember:

• Say yes more often when things come your way.
• Don’t die still wondering.
• Be an “I’m glad I did” rather than “I wish I had.”

An excerpt from the best-selling “10 Book” by Dan Zadra and Kobi Yamada, published by Compendium, Inc. Order a copy here.