While my neighbours to the south celebrate their nation’s birthday, I celebrated mine yesterday. After the craziness of my month of travel (better known as June), my family and I chilled out at home and enjoyed the day with some Devil’s Food cupcakes. And as I took the time to reflect on my 37 years, I realized that I’ve learned a number of things during my time on this planet. Here are the 37 that I think are the most worthy to mention.
- If you’re going to buy something, spend a little more to get a better quality of that something. Whether it’s beer, technology, coffee or a hotel, it’s always worth the expense…and the time to save for the expense.
- We all have the same amount of time in a day, but we don’t all have the same amount of time on this planet. How we spend that time each day will impact how much you enjoy what time you do have on this planet.
- “Cutting the cable” is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. I don’t miss any of the shows I used to watch.
- The first sign of wisdom is finding out the sex of your second child so that you know whether or not to get rid of all of the first child’s stuff.
- Social media is a means to an end. If you don’t have an end, then why bother announcing it?
- Take lots of photos. Be mindful about them, but still take them.
- Take time to be nostalgic. It’s one of the most human things you can do.
- The day is better when you get up early.
- It’s okay to have idiosyncrasies. In fact, it’s more than okay…it’s ideal.
- There are few actors more versatile than Alec Baldwin.
- Baz Luhrmann was right about the sunscreen.
- Stand your ground if you believe you’re right, but don’t condemn those who you believe are not.
- Standing desks lend themselves to inspiring more productivity.
- There’s no better place to be than outside.
- While it is hard to quiet the mind, it’s essential to do so that you can mind the quiet.
- A house is a constant work in progress. So is a home, but the monetary cost is lower and the reward is much higher.
- Just like Conan O’Brien became popular when many thought it was unlikely, so will Jimmy Fallon.
- Feed your mind and body with quality stuff. Organic material is always best in both realms.
- Hug often. Very few feelings in the world trump that of getting a hug.
- Guys, don’t wear hats too often if you want to have hair when you’re older.
- Teach your kids how to read an analog clock. And paper books. Don’t lose sight of these things.
- A ringing phone does not have to be answered.
- Just because you’re louder doesn’t mean you’re automatically right. It’s often the opposite.
- If you look at anything with an unfettered mind, a positive outlook has a better chance of emerging.
- If you hate lifting weights, try running. If you hate running, try lifting weights. Either way, do one or both of them regularly.
- Wait until you’re at least 30 to have kids. You won’t be really ready until then.
- Do what you love — it’s never too late to do so. You owe it to yourself to do so.
- One the first words we ever learn is the most important one we have in our arsenal. That word is “no”.
- Pets are great, but they are a real proving ground for responsibility. Remember that.
- One of life’s simplest pleasures is swinging on a swing set.
- Use the tools to do the job that make the job more pleasurable for you.
- Don’t make wholesale changes. You’ll give up long before the changes are implemented.
- Uncertainty is the enemy of flow. If you don’t know when the kid is going to wake up from the nap, don’t do creative work. Do the stuff that you can walk away from at any given moment.
- “Doing” productive ultimately gets you nowhere. “Being” productive is where it’s at…and will be. Make sure the productivity system works for you — not the other way around.
- If your significant other has a pet cat and it knows you’re not fond of it, the cat will stick around until it’s had enough of you. Just ask my wife.
- There will never be a movie version of what you watched or read growing up that will live up to your expectations.
- I’ve got a lot of life left to live…and a lot of lessons left to learn.
