Today is my birthday. I am 39 years old. (Where does the time go? I mean almost 40? Wasn’t I just 25?) Well, anyway, since people love doing this kind of stuff, here are 39 lessons I’ve learned about life (some of them far too late) in my 39 years:
1. Sleep is very, very underrated. You will never regret getting a good night’s sleep. And you’ll live better because of it. Get sleep. Don’t skimp on it. 8 hrs. Trust me.
2. Read more. Books are great. They teach you a lot and expand your mind. If you don’t read, you’re not living your best life. And you won’t get as far ahead in it either. Be a reader.
3. Watch/read the news less. 99% of the news is useless filler. Just turn it off. Especially cable news. If it’s important enough, you’ll hear about it.
4. Support your favorite online creators/websites. Just because the content is free, doesn’t mean it costs nothing to create.
4. Support your favorite online creators/websites. Just because the content is free, doesn’t mean it costs nothing to create.
5. Always wear sunscreen.
6. Don’t dwell over the past. We make the best decision we can at the time. Don’t dwell. Learn and move on.
7. Don’t get caught up in other people’s drama. Their shit isn’t your problem and will only bring you down.
6. Don’t dwell over the past. We make the best decision we can at the time. Don’t dwell. Learn and move on.
7. Don’t get caught up in other people’s drama. Their shit isn’t your problem and will only bring you down.
8. Don’t worry about what people think of you. People will either love you or hate you. You can’t control that. You just do you, be nice to others, and live your best life. How people respond is up to them.
9. You can’t control the world, only how you respond to it. So respond with kindness and empathy.
10. Travel.
11. Eat healthy (most of the time). There’s no reason to shorten your life. You’ll have more energy, sleep better, and feel better!
10. Travel.
11. Eat healthy (most of the time). There’s no reason to shorten your life. You’ll have more energy, sleep better, and feel better!
12. Drink less. The hangovers only get worse the older you get.
13. Your life will be as good or bad as the people you let in it. Be friends with people who bring out the best you not a worse you. If people aren’t lifting you up, Marie Kondo their ass and get rid of them.
13. Your life will be as good or bad as the people you let in it. Be friends with people who bring out the best you not a worse you. If people aren’t lifting you up, Marie Kondo their ass and get rid of them.
14. Where you go to school doesn’t matter as much as you think it does. What matters is whether you can do the job or not. Focus more on skills than a piece of paper.
15. Never stop improving yourself. You can always get better. Progress, not perfection.
15. Never stop improving yourself. You can always get better. Progress, not perfection.
16. Have at least one hobby so you have something that will help you destress, create, and relax.
17. Go for walks. The quiet time will help you relax and think through problems in your life.
18. Seriously, travel.
17. Go for walks. The quiet time will help you relax and think through problems in your life.
18. Seriously, travel.
19. You will never regret chasing the girl.
20. You will always regret not chasing the girl.
20. You will always regret not chasing the girl.
21. Don’t believe everything you see on the Internet. Any idiot can cut a YouTube video to make anything seem true.
22. Be kind. Everyone has shit they are dealing with too. You never know the demons people carry with them so give people the benefit of the doubt.
22. Be kind. Everyone has shit they are dealing with too. You never know the demons people carry with them so give people the benefit of the doubt.
23. Give to charity.
24. Your 20s will go by fast and your 30s will go by faster. Make use of your time before they are both over.
24. Your 20s will go by fast and your 30s will go by faster. Make use of your time before they are both over.
25. Learn the art of scheduling. You have more than enough time you use it wisely. The older you get, the more you’ll regret wasting the universe’s most valuable resource.
26. Always give up your seat for an old person, pregnant woman, or a kid. It’s the right thing to do.
26. Always give up your seat for an old person, pregnant woman, or a kid. It’s the right thing to do.
27. Spend less time on Facebook. Nothing in your life will be improved by more Facebook.
28. Be true to your word. Your reputation will precede you so make sure that it is a good one.
28. Be true to your word. Your reputation will precede you so make sure that it is a good one.
29. Read biographies. Don’t reinvent the life wheel. Learn from others & use their experience to better your own life.
30. Call your friends. It’s easy to lose touch, especially as everyone moves around these days. Make an active effort to check in with people important to you.
30. Call your friends. It’s easy to lose touch, especially as everyone moves around these days. Make an active effort to check in with people important to you.
31. Your 30s will be a lot better than your 20s.
32. Take risks. When you swing for the fences, you get the biggest rewards. If you swing and miss, you’re still where you are and nothing was lost.
32. Take risks. When you swing for the fences, you get the biggest rewards. If you swing and miss, you’re still where you are and nothing was lost.
33. Save more. Being frugal and having some money will give you a sense of security.
34. Know failure is part of life.
35. Remember that people change. Don’t hold someone’s past against them if who they are in the present is different. We all make mistakes.
34. Know failure is part of life.
35. Remember that people change. Don’t hold someone’s past against them if who they are in the present is different. We all make mistakes.
36. Try new food. The weirdest stuff often tastes the best.
37. Remember that no else has it all figured out. We’re all just really stumbling around in the dark.
38. The grass is never greener on the other side.
37. Remember that no else has it all figured out. We’re all just really stumbling around in the dark.
38. The grass is never greener on the other side.
39. I was knifed in Colombia. A friend drowned in Thailand. Another died climbing Kilimanjaro. Be grateful for every stupid moment you have because this mortal coil is fleeting. Live fully. We are not promised tomorrow. Make the most of your life. /end
