Damn I’m getting old.
Yes, today I start my 57th trip around the sun.
This past year has been pretty insane. I won’t go into it all, but lets just say that it has been challenging personally.
A few things I have learned over the past 56 years are:
Do what you want.
You’ll take heat for some of it, but at the end of the day, you are the only person you really have to please.
Family really does come first.
So why did I make it second? Hey, give me a break. I’m 57 and probably senile. But seriously, call your folks, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins if they are still with you. Once they are gone it is too late to pick up that phone.
If you can, visit them. Often.
You can’t please everyone.
So stop trying. It will drive you crazy.
Hang onto your friends.
I talk to my best friends almost every day. They don’t care what you do, (unless it is going to hurt you) and they will support you. Your best friend won’t bail you out of jail though. He or she will be right in the cell with you.
Avoid negativity.
Lots of it in this world and it will bring you down. That is why I stopped listening to the news. And you know what? I still hear things I need to. But I no longer have to deal with the talking heads on TV who repeat the same thing over and over.
And there are people in your life who will suck that energy out of you. Try to stay positive and keep your distance. It makes a difference in the quality of your life.
Be nice to people.
A tiny bit of compassion and kindness goes a long way when someone is having a rough time. We don’t know what is really going on in someone else’s life, so taking that moment to treat everyone you see, meet or talk to with a bit of respect and kindness can do wonders. And it makes you a better person too.
Do what you want.
I know I said that first, so why repeat it? Because I wanted to.
That and the fact this is a really important piece of the puzzle to happiness.
Now I’m going to go do what I want.
