My twin nieces are graduating from high school soon. When I graduated from high school their mother gave me the “Life’s Little Instruction Book” so I thought that I could return the sentiment by writing up some of my own collected advice and wisdom to dispense to her children. I jotted down a list to share and solicit more little bits of insight to add to the list.
Taking care of your teeth (brush, floss, swish) will save you lots of money and painful dentist appointments.
Always keep pain reliever and tampons in your bag.
Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to admit that you don’t know something.
Back up your hard drives.
Watch “Remix: a Manifesto.” If you create things consider using a Creative Commons license.
Get into some kind of physical activity as a hobby to stay active (walk, swim, bike, tennis, yoga, dance, hike). Its way more fun than the gym.
Be gentle with the Earth.
Don’t look at the calendar. Just keep celebrating the every day.
Invest in quality pieces, they never go out of style. Thrift shops have a treasure trove of clothing that one can always afford and you may find some gems.
Get enough sleep (8 hrs +) and drink plenty of water to stay healthy. And wear sunscreen, your skin will look great.
Don’t get crazy amassing a lot of things. The things you own end up owning you. Instead invest in experiences, you will enjoy the memories over and over.
Eat the rainbow. Find lots of fruits and vegetables that you like.
Life is all about change and its never too late to learn something new.
Meditation helps one deal with everything. Deep breaths in and out.
Creative expression is free happiness. Make art, cook, dance, journal, sing, anything that you can imagine.
Check out the free museum days in your area (usually during the first week of the month).
Don’t forget that the public library has free movies, music and books. Read all kinds of books. Listen to all kinds of music.
Skip the coffee shops and make your own at home. Way cheaper to buy good coffee beans and cream or even way better tea.
Credit card debt sucks! Try to keep all debt at a minimum.
Don’t use social media as a diary. Future employers will google you.
Do blog and practice writing and using the internet to publish. Knowing WordPress will get you jobs.
It takes ten thousand hours to master a task, but you have to start somewhere. So start practicing to start getting better.
“Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail but every day is a new opportunity.”
-the Happiness Project
Stumbling out of a rest room I came across an old man who was chuckling to himself and looked me straight in the eye and said “The key to life son – is clean pipes!” and he just kept waddling by and chuckling.
I was stunned and stood there thinking about it.
Its a worthy message to pass along.