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how to be better
Not the best, not the greatest. Just: better.
You’re thirty-one. Time to dress a little more like a grown-up.
Close your mouth and listen a little more. You’ve given all of your speeches at least a dozen times by now anyway. That’s enough for awhile.
Try not to interpret things too much.
Trust people until they don’t deserve it.
The only person you own is yourself. Remember that when someone does something that hurts you, it doesn’t say anything about you. It says something about them.
Don’t change anybody.
Your body is a pretty fascinating machine. Keep testing it and making modifications. There’s a lot more you can do in this life if you do.
Challenge all of your proud preconceived ideas. There are usually a lot of things you don’t know that you will find out.
Same goes for assumptions. You’ll learn that abalone tastes good.
Think before you talk. That’s an oldie, yes, but you still haven’t figured it out.
Listen more. Already said it, but it’s worth repeating.
Make time for the things you love to do. Even if you’re awake until three a.m. If that’s the only time you can get to them, then get to them then. Sleep is nice and all, but you can always do it later.
There’s far more that you can’t control than you can. So lay off the worry.
Be positive. It just feels better.
Be more well-read than you are. Read everything you can get your hands on. Be able to talk about anything at a moment’s notice. (This might take a few years to get really, really good at. That’s why old guys are such interesting conversationalists right before they go senile.)
Walk tall. You know, like that movie. With that wrestler guy who makes movies for first-graders now. Remember?
Let the past go. All of it.
Seriously, all of it.
Sing more on long car rides. Remember how Granddad would do that on road trips? Do that. It’s endearing. Unless you overdo it. So don’t overdo it.
Remember that there is no one else in the world like the woman you’ve asked to marry you. Always treat her just like that. Remember in The Untouchables when Connery asks Garcia why he wants to be a cop, and Garcia says “To serve and protect the blah blah blah”? Take those first couple of words, add one, and treat her that way. Love, serve and protect her. And a whole bunch of other stuff. But remember those three.
Expectations. Ditch them. It’s hard, but you have them because of a shitty period in your life that set your horizon all tilty. Realize this, jettison them, be a well-rounded person satisfied with whatever happens.
Call your mother more.
Your father, too.
Don’t forget your sister.
Keep working out and running like you have been. Keep eating better. It’s good for more than just changing the way you look. It’s good for being able to do cool shit with your kids someday. It’s good for sticking around until you’re ninety so you can be an awesome old person with your awesome old-but-five-years-younger-than-you hottie of a wife.
Smile at everybody. Talk to them. Everybody is interesting.
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pictured here in his study
Lust, Caution
Achewood
9rules member
December 8th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
You needed 31 items in your list… Good list…