Pearls of Wisdom

I might be a day late and a dollar short, but I wanted to play catchup up on the May Blog Challenge and share some pearls of wisdom with you. 

1. The biggest life lessons are often gained through experience. You can research your way though an entire library on a particular subject, but nothing can compare to the understanding that comes from being confronted and surrounded by different situations, environments and ways of thinking.
2. Spend your money on something that will give you memories that will last a lifetime instead of filling your life with material things. The goal in life is often to build a career and make a lot of money. Well, these things are great {you're talking to a certified workaholic}, but when it comes to my free time, nothing is better than spending it in a beautiful place with people I love. Whether it's a typical weekend at the Cape or a week away in a new land, the memories {and inevitable bajillion pictures} I take away from those times are worth so much more than any clothes/electronics/junk that I don't really need.
3. Surrounding yourself with people who make you happy. Choose friends that make you smile and laugh. Laughing and smiling your way though life will only bring you joy.
4. Don't be a know-it-all. No one likes these. At all. You might know everything about killer bees in Africa, but that doesn't qualify you as an expert on every other topic under the sun. This kind of attitude, I find, also lends itself to arrogance, which is a complete turn off. Have some humility and try to be a humble person. People will recognize who you are and what you are capable of without broadcasting it to the universe. 
What are some of your life lessons that school didn't teach you?