Things I Have Learned So Far

Today was the last class period for two of my classes. I wanted to give my students a parting gift of wisdom, or the closest thing to it that I could muster.

Here is my list of "Things I Have Learned So Far"* -

1. Follow your passion. Do what gets you excited to get out of bed each day.
2. Be curious about the world.
3. Always bring something to read on a plane.
4. Cultivate only the habits that you are willing to have for the next 30 to 40 years.
5. Balance work and pleasure.
6. Learn to enjoy solitude and peace.
7. Don’t eat lunch at your desk.
8. Save 20% of what you earn, starting as soon as possible.
9. Be nice to everyone. But first, learn what they like or need before assuming that you are being kind to them.
10. Be positive. Try to find the positive at least some of the time.
11. Shopping is not a form of patriotism.
12. Walk as much as possible. You will enjoy the exercise, fresh air, and the perspective of the pedestrian.
13. Integrity (or your reputation) is easy to lose but hard to re-gain.
14. Have pride in your work, but be willing to admit when you have done average or below average work.
15. You should have an opinion but do listen to other people’s point of view and reconsider your opinions based on their perspective and new evidence.
16. Understand your roles (mother, son, employee, student, etc) in life and what they demand from you.
17. Have standards. Live up to them even when you think no one is watching.
18. Being likable can get you farther than being smart or talented .
19. Figure out how you want to live and then do a few things each day that helps you create that life.
20. Whenever possible, take the stairs.
21. Spend some time each day reading or thinking about ideas, morality, and spirituality.
22. Two phrases to avoid: “I don’t care” and “I’m bored.”
23. You are what you do, not what you believe.
24. Technology doesn’t always set you free or make your life easier.
25. When tired, get a good night’s rest.
26. Homework helps the student learn, not the teacher teach. If you don’t do it, you are not harming or hurting the teacher!
27. True freedom means making difficult or unpopular choices.
28. You will not be comfortable with other people until you are comfortable with yourself.
29. A sweater vest is not just an article of clothing, it is philosophical statement.
30. Guidebooks and lists about how to live a better life are usually wrong.

* Knowing these things does not mean that I actually do them . . . yet