Thirty Years In the Life Of
Today, I turn thirty. And please before you send me all those sheep and lemming happy birthday wishes when I share the same fucking birth date that nearly 18.5 million other people share, do me a favor and don’t. I deserve absolutely ZERO credit from escaping a womb after my parents had sex. Are we clear on that? A toast to them perhaps, but certainly not to me.
So, here I am thirty years later. A bit larger, a bit more humbled and maybe, just maybe, a bit more polished. I’ve learned a lot about life, about what works and what doesn’t work and I’ve certainly paid attention to exactly what is going on around me. Here are my thoughts, observations, learnings, shall I dare say advice, and most importantly the things I’m moving forward with after thirty years of a truly brilliant fucking life.
KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid. Nearly every faucet of life is made better by simplicity, keep it as simple as possible. From planting a garden, to plating a nice dinner, to travel plans, to a work proposal, to the kiss on a woman’s neck, to your over-thought plans for the perfect life. Keep it simple.
Keep your standards high. In every single thing your soul touches, have standards. Whether it’s the type of people you let into your life or the food you let into your mouth, have some standards. Stick to them.
Never take your health for granted.
Have a little humility. You’re not perfect. You never will be. The sooner you accept this and move on, the more rewarding life will be. People are bundles of mistakes ready to spill over by their very nature, get over it.
Keep your mind open. Do absolutely whatever it takes to distant yourself from the bewildered herd.
Don’t be afraid to say goodbye.
The only way through a problem is through confrontation. You simply can’t afford to side step your problems. Confront them, solve them, and move on.
Know what you’re talking about, or don’t talk. Then go study.
Stay away from routine. Whether it’s as simple as a small variation on the route you take to work or a different flavor of cereal for breakfast, thick routines should be avoided.
Your occupation doesn’t define who you are. If it does, try again.
Never ever mistake motion for action.
Find your artistic avenue, whether it’s writing or photography or painting or charcoal or stained glass window or music or cross stitch, whatever it may be, find it. I’m a big believer that everyone in the this world is an artist, just not all of them know it. Once you find it, don’t stop. Ever.
Understand the difference between fact and opinion, understand where one ends and the other begins.
Never ever be afraid to speak up. Be honest, be humble, be polite, but never fear putting your mind into words.
Work hard, and play hard. Don’t take things so damn seriously, and when you do, do the job right.
Laugh.
Take some time on the sidelines to reflect. Daydream. Take your own pulse. Assess what’s working and what’s not working.
Get off your ass and get on your feet. When in doubt, take the stairs. When in doubt, go for a walk.
Embrace, kiss, and love change.
Let go. The amount of things you can actually control in this world is quite miniscule. Don’t try to control everything. Let life work its magic.
The answers come from within, not from the outside.
Stay away from excuses, period.
Never consider your audience. Live life without a filter.
Don’t try to be too clever.
Have some compassion. I really can’t stress this enough.
Character trumps experience.
Rules are manmade. Break them. Break them often.
Accept your death and that of everyone else. Enjoy the ride.
Embrace that which you’re not, embrace difference. You simply can’t have harmony in the world with one single note.
Love yourself.
And finally, after all the soul searching and thinking and dreaming and figuring out is done, if there is anything I’ve ever learned in all my days it’s this. Figure out what it is you do. And never ever stop.