June 8, 2016

• 19 x 3 =

  No way! I can't be 57! It feels like I was just 19, but that was officially THREE LIFETIMES AGO!!! What the heck happened? Oh yeah, Life. You know, everyone at some point in their life says, "If only I could go back to [some younger age] but know everything I know now..." Well, I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen unless a blue police box materializes on the front lawn, so instead I'm going to make an effort to use all of my hard-won knowledge, experience and cunning to make the next 30 or 40 years as physically, spiritually and financially profitable as possible so I can look back at my 57-year-old self when I'm undeniably old and say, "Hey, kid, you got it right!" All my younger readers can get a head start by reading my annual Life List. My contemporaries can nod in agreement and my elders can scoff at me. I've had a couple of different versions of this over the years and I try to add something new every year. This is the important stuff, folks, the stuff that really matters in life. It will never be a complete list, but there are a few pearls of wisdom that, if you follow the advice, you will grow to appreciate sometime down the line. Everyone has a life list, but not everyone writes it down. You should. No matter how old you are, no matter how young you are, you have learned something worth passing on to others. Feel free to add your own pearls of wisdom in the comments.

  57 THINGS WORTH KNOWING

  1. Start eating healthy while you’re still healthy.
  2. Start wearing sensible shoes before your feet, knees and back get bad.
  3. Dye your hair the color you always wished it was.
  4. Drive with the windows down and don’t worry about your hair getting messy.
  5. Take that road trip you’ve always dreamed of.
  6. Learn a craft or develop a hobby that will engage you when you’re bored.
  7. Keep in touch with aunts, uncles and cousins, no matter how busy your life becomes.
  8. Get off the interstate and take the back roads.
  9. Stop hiding from the camera.
  10. Adopt a pet from an animal shelter.
  11. Learn how to cook three things really well.
  12. Do volunteer work, even if it’s only an hour a week.
  13. Get all those digital photos printed.
  14. Write letters using paper, stamps and envelopes.
  15. Do something that frightens you.
  16. Make a conscious effort to smile at people.
  17. Walk with confidence.
  18. Look for moments of beauty, joy and gratitude each day.
  19. Keep a journal, even if it’s boring.
  20. Appreciate a boring life; excitement is usually related to disaster.
  21. Think before you speak.
  22. Think before you blog.
  23. Think before you post those photos online.
  24. Never, ever send naked photos to anyone. Never…  Anyone.
  25. Reuse what you can.
  26. Recycle what you can’t reuse.
  27. Send postcards to your friends when you travel.
  28. Act silly in public.
  29. Take selfies with children; you will be the coolest grownup in the room.
  30. Walk in the woods.
  31. Stargaze.
  32. Mail funny birthday cards to your friends when it’s not their birthday.
  33. Call your mother.
  34. Listen when your parents or grandparents tell you stories about their lives.
  35. Learn to play an instrument.
  36. Taste new foods.
  37. Retry foods you didn’t like when you were a kid.
  38. Sing Christmas carols in June.
  39. Buy yourself flowers for no particular reason.
  40. Always keep a road atlas in your vehicle.
  41. When you get lost, make it an adventure.
  42. Learn to be alone without being lonely.
  43. Sing in the shower.
  44. Sing in the car.
  45. Dance when the spirit moves you.
  46. A good mattress is one of the best investments you can make.
  47. Paint your toenails an outrageous color.
  48. Watch as many sunsets as you can.
  49. Play in the rain.
  50. Eat chocolate without guilt.
  51. Go to a movie at a drive-in theater. (Take lots of bug spray.)
  52. Wear earplugs at concerts. You’ll thank me later.
  53. Keep your cookie jar filled at all times.
  54. Always keep Bandaids and ice packs on hand.
  55. Look for the good in people.
  56. You are allowed to eat cake for breakfast on your birthday.
  57. Cut your toenails before going on an eleven mile hike.

  • 11:46 am
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