Things my father was right about
There are an insane amount of things my dad is always right about. How 'spot on' his assumptions and advice have been is magical. Since I was young, the things my dad is right about have been adding up. I don't always abide by his guidance at first, but in the end what he told me to do in the beginning ends up being the right thing to do. Can you relate to this feeling too? Take a look at what my Dad told me…
Your 30s, 40s and 50s will not come with bang
Adults are just older children. When you get older you won't feel as old as you imagine you will. For the most part, you still feel exactly the way you feel right now, just a little wiser and more confident. You've had time to establish your place in the world and figure out what's important to you. Don't fear growing up. Look forward to it. It's awesome.
Bad things will happen to you and your friends
Part of living and growing up is experiencing unexpected troubles in life. People lose jobs, get in car accidents and sometimes die. When you are younger, and things are going pretty well, this harsh reality can be hard to visualize. The smartest, and oftentimes hardest, thing we can do in these kinds of situations is to be tempered in our reactions. To remember that emotional rage only makes matters worse.
Everyone can make a huge difference
Making one person smile can change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So start small and start now.
First impressions aren't all they're cracked up.
Everyone and everything seems normal from a distance, or at a glance. The 10th, 20th, or even the 50th impression is when you start to truly understand someone else for who they truly are.
Big results come when you narrow your focus
Concentrate your efforts on smaller and smaller areas. When your efforts are diffused over a wide area they won't have much of an impact. So focus on smaller areas and your efforts will be felt more fully. It could take time for change to happen, but keep that focus narrow.
Love yourself. Become your own priority
Strive to be the 'you' you want to be. Nourish your mind and body. Educate yourself every day until you die.
Sometimes you just have to go for it
Put your uncertainty and fears aside for a second and ask yourself this: "If I try and I don't get it right the first time, what will I have lost and what will I have gained?" The answer is: You will have lost nothing but a little bit of your time while gaining an important lesson that will help you get it right the second or third time. People rarely get it right the first time.
In order to get, you have to give
Supporting, guiding and making contributions to other people is one of life's greatest rewards. Everything you do comes back around.
Not much is worth fighting about
If you can avoid it, don't fight. Step back from arguments with your spouse, family members or neighbors. When you feel anger surging up and you want to yell that vulgar remark on tip of your tongue, just close your mouth and walk away. Let yourself calm down. You don't have to be right or win an argument. It just doesn't matter.
Don't try to impress everyone
Purposely impressing people is an act that brings nothing but a momentary ego boost. Be real with people instead. Connect with fewer people on a level that is deeper and more profound.
Keep having fun
Fun is way underrated. With all of life's responsibilities, fun will sometimes seem like an indulgence. It shouldn't be. It should be a requirement. Make time for fun.
Keep it simple
There is a world of magnificence hidden in simplicity. Pick the five most important things in your life now and focus on those things. Let the other stuff go. Stop the busyness and really enjoy what's important to you.
Little things stick with you
So pay attention to them. Like watching your child sleep. Preparing a meal with your family. Sharing a great laugh with an old friend. This is the real stuff life is made of.
Less advice is often the best advice
People don't need lots of advice, they need to live. I've seen young, rocky relationships develop into wonderful marriages and fleeting inspirations ignite a lifetime of passion and happiness. Our life stories, like the answers we give to long essay questions, are uniquely ours. What people want to know is already somewhere inside of them. We all just need time to think, be and breathe, and continue to explore the undirected journeys that will eventually help us find our direction.
Manage your time
Your situation and environment is ever changing, so be careful not to confuse things that are urgent with things that are importan
Manage your money
Don't buy stuff you don't need. Don't spend more than you make. Don't let your money manage you.
What you learn in school does matter
While you may not use the specifics of every classroom lesson, every lesson does expand the core thought process of your mind. Over time you will develop problem solving skills that are universally applicable. No single classroom lesson can teach this, and no single classroom lesson is more important
Dreams will remain dreams forever if you don't take.
Don't dream about it anymore. Start doing it. In 40 years from now what is it that you will regret not having accomplished, appreciated or attempted? Do it, appreciate it and attempt it NOW!
No one's smarter than you
Long ago, if I was in a group and the conversation strayed to an unfamiliar topic, I'd keep silent. Dad urged me to say, "I don't understand. Can you explain what you're talking about?" Asking questions makes you sound smart, he said, and confident to boot.
Stop worrying!
Dad, like many guys of his generation, is a doer, not a talker. Just "fix it," he tells himself, no matter how intractable the problem seems. His swift and decisive action used to strike me, a champion ditherer, as impulsive, but I've come to realize that consulting your gut leads to better decisions than exhaustive (and exhausting) deliberation. Now when I'm stymied, I say this phrase, and the answer comes.
There are an insane amount of things my dad is always right about. How 'spot on' his assumptions and advice have been is magical. Since I was young, the things my dad is right about have been adding up. I don't always abide by his guidance at first, but in the end what he told me to do in the beginning ends up being the right thing to do. Can you relate to this feeling too? Take a look at what my Dad told me…
Your 30s, 40s and 50s will not come with bang
Adults are just older children. When you get older you won't feel as old as you imagine you will. For the most part, you still feel exactly the way you feel right now, just a little wiser and more confident. You've had time to establish your place in the world and figure out what's important to you. Don't fear growing up. Look forward to it. It's awesome.
Bad things will happen to you and your friends
Part of living and growing up is experiencing unexpected troubles in life. People lose jobs, get in car accidents and sometimes die. When you are younger, and things are going pretty well, this harsh reality can be hard to visualize. The smartest, and oftentimes hardest, thing we can do in these kinds of situations is to be tempered in our reactions. To remember that emotional rage only makes matters worse.
Everyone can make a huge difference
Making one person smile can change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So start small and start now.
First impressions aren't all they're cracked up.
Everyone and everything seems normal from a distance, or at a glance. The 10th, 20th, or even the 50th impression is when you start to truly understand someone else for who they truly are.
Big results come when you narrow your focus
Concentrate your efforts on smaller and smaller areas. When your efforts are diffused over a wide area they won't have much of an impact. So focus on smaller areas and your efforts will be felt more fully. It could take time for change to happen, but keep that focus narrow.
Love yourself. Become your own priority
Strive to be the 'you' you want to be. Nourish your mind and body. Educate yourself every day until you die.
Sometimes you just have to go for it
Put your uncertainty and fears aside for a second and ask yourself this: "If I try and I don't get it right the first time, what will I have lost and what will I have gained?" The answer is: You will have lost nothing but a little bit of your time while gaining an important lesson that will help you get it right the second or third time. People rarely get it right the first time.
In order to get, you have to give
Supporting, guiding and making contributions to other people is one of life's greatest rewards. Everything you do comes back around.
Not much is worth fighting about
If you can avoid it, don't fight. Step back from arguments with your spouse, family members or neighbors. When you feel anger surging up and you want to yell that vulgar remark on tip of your tongue, just close your mouth and walk away. Let yourself calm down. You don't have to be right or win an argument. It just doesn't matter.
Don't try to impress everyone
Purposely impressing people is an act that brings nothing but a momentary ego boost. Be real with people instead. Connect with fewer people on a level that is deeper and more profound.
Keep having fun
Fun is way underrated. With all of life's responsibilities, fun will sometimes seem like an indulgence. It shouldn't be. It should be a requirement. Make time for fun.
Keep it simple
There is a world of magnificence hidden in simplicity. Pick the five most important things in your life now and focus on those things. Let the other stuff go. Stop the busyness and really enjoy what's important to you.
Little things stick with you
So pay attention to them. Like watching your child sleep. Preparing a meal with your family. Sharing a great laugh with an old friend. This is the real stuff life is made of.
Less advice is often the best advice
People don't need lots of advice, they need to live. I've seen young, rocky relationships develop into wonderful marriages and fleeting inspirations ignite a lifetime of passion and happiness. Our life stories, like the answers we give to long essay questions, are uniquely ours. What people want to know is already somewhere inside of them. We all just need time to think, be and breathe, and continue to explore the undirected journeys that will eventually help us find our direction.
Manage your time
Your situation and environment is ever changing, so be careful not to confuse things that are urgent with things that are importan
Manage your money
Don't buy stuff you don't need. Don't spend more than you make. Don't let your money manage you.
What you learn in school does matter
While you may not use the specifics of every classroom lesson, every lesson does expand the core thought process of your mind. Over time you will develop problem solving skills that are universally applicable. No single classroom lesson can teach this, and no single classroom lesson is more important
Dreams will remain dreams forever if you don't take.
Don't dream about it anymore. Start doing it. In 40 years from now what is it that you will regret not having accomplished, appreciated or attempted? Do it, appreciate it and attempt it NOW!
No one's smarter than you
Long ago, if I was in a group and the conversation strayed to an unfamiliar topic, I'd keep silent. Dad urged me to say, "I don't understand. Can you explain what you're talking about?" Asking questions makes you sound smart, he said, and confident to boot.
Stop worrying!
Dad, like many guys of his generation, is a doer, not a talker. Just "fix it," he tells himself, no matter how intractable the problem seems. His swift and decisive action used to strike me, a champion ditherer, as impulsive, but I've come to realize that consulting your gut leads to better decisions than exhaustive (and exhausting) deliberation. Now when I'm stymied, I say this phrase, and the answer comes.
