Ever heard the expression "the school of hard knocks?" Most of us have. It's a way of saying that life is a place where we learn through difficult situations and experiences. Sometimes a person considers the lessons from the school of hard knocks more valuable, or at least more practical, than the knowledge gained from traditional education through college and university courses. The question is what we actually learn from the school of hard knocks.

In life, that school of hard knocks, even the best find themselves facing the F word: failure. So what do we do when we fail? Many of us will move through life day by day and we will focus on the big things: graduating from school, getting married, landing a job that pays more, and so on. But what does the school of hard knocks teach us about little things? Do the little things matter? We travel the journey of life with the mindset that our life is our own and we can do with it as we please. Does our example impact or influence anyone other than ourselves? When we face tough decisions, especially when no one else is looking, does it matter if we do what is right? Is what we believe important or do we even need faith at all?

In Lessons from Life, the author provides a look at some principles gleaned from life: the school of hard knocks. Drawing on experiences of a fighter pilot shot down during the Vietnam War, along with his own experiences in life, the writer passes along some of the things he learned in the school of hard knocks.