A few more of my favorites, courtesy Life's Little Instruction Book by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Same format as before: Ones I need to work on, remind myself of, or just plain like are bolded; my stream of consciousness as I read through Brown's exhaustive list is denoted in minuscule italics.
101. Praise in public.
102. Criticize in private.
103. When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go. Well, on those incredibly rare occasions when you actually let someone get within 1 foot of you.
104. Keep a daily journal, & don't even think about substituting your twitter account for this. Hand written. On REAL pages.
105. Keep your promises. Even if they're seemingly impossible to keep, find a way.
106. Be willing to lose a battle in order to win the war.
107. Don't be deceived by first impressions, but always try to make a good first impression regardless. Key word: try.
108. Seek out the good in people.
109. Never discuss money with people who have much more or much less than you. It will only make you depressed or ..depressed.
110. Never buy something you don't need just because it's on sale. Never buy anything unless you'll die without it.
111. Drink eight glasses of water every day. Remember, hydration is good for you. Getting up & walking to the bathroom is good for you. Peeing is good for you. Do things that are good for you!
112. Buy a bird feeder and hang it so that you can see it from your kitchen window.
113. Never cut what can be untied.
114. Show respect for others' time. Call whenever you're going to be more than ten minutes late for an appointment.
115. Learn to show cheerfulness, even when you don't feel like it. This is a difficult one.
116. Learn to show enthusiasm, even when you don't feel like it. This is also a difficult one.
117. Take good care of those you love, and openly admit, if not to them at least yourself, that you care for them.
118. Don't jaywalk. You could be the next roadkill-of-the-day.
119. Take family vacations whether you can afford them or not. The memories will be priceless. Don't forget this when you're older & the financial burden is on you.
120. Don't gossip.
121. Don't discuss salaries.
122. Don't nag. You do it far too much already.
123. Beware of the person who has nothing to lose, & don't ever let that person become you.
124. Lie on your back and look at the stars every single possible chance you can. Bonus points if it's with someone special.
125. Don't whine. It's not very becoming.
126. Arrive at work early and stay beyond quitting time.
127. When facing a difficult task, act as though it is impossible to fail. If you're going after Moby Dick, take along the tartar sauce.
128. Change air conditioner filters every three months; especially if you have dander shedding kittens running amok.
129. Leave everything a little better than you found it.
130. Never snap your fingers to get someone's attention. It's rude. Does this apply to animals?
131. Never underestimate your power to change yourself.
132. Never overestimate your power to change others.
133. Practice empathy. Try to see things from other people's points of view.
134. Promise big. Deliver big. Do everything big. Just.. don't eat big.
135. Discipline yourself to save money. It's essential to success. I think I've got this one DOWN.
136. Get and stay in shape. Working on it...
137. Accept pain and disappointment as part of life.
138. Remember that a successful marriage depends on two things: (1) finding the right person and (2) being the right person. Don't ever be what you're not.
139. See problems as opportunities for growth and self-mastery. Wow, I have A LOT of opportunities for growth and self-mastery right now..
140. Become an expert in time management, & start by wasting less time on the world wide web & more time out in the world right outside your window.
141. Never go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink. Never go to anything with dirty anythings anywhere.
142. Judge your success by the degree that you're enjoying peace, health, and love.
143. Learn to handle a handsaw and a hammer. It might come in handy someday?
144. Never underestimate the power of love.
145. Never underestimate the power of forgiveness.
146. Don't bore people with your problems. When someone asks you how you feel — say, "Terrific, never better." When they ask, "How's business?" reply, "Excellent, and getting better every day."
147. Learn to disagree without being disagreeable. It's possible, right?
148. Be tactful. Never alienate anyone on purpose.
149. Refrain from envy. It's the source of much unhappiness.
150. When there's no time for a full work-out, do push-ups. Or crazy ivans. Or Russian twists.
151. Remember that winners do what losers don't want to do. ..and losers do what whiners can't.
152. Seek opportunity, not security. A boat in a harbor is safe, but in time its bottom will rot out.
153. Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.
154. Instead of using the words, “if only”, try substituting the words, “next time”.
155. Ever so often push your luck. Push. Don't shove.
156. Regarding furniture and clothes: if you think you'll be using them five years or longer, buy the best you can afford. Should have thought of this when I purchased my bed.
157. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did. Clichéd, but true..
158. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them. To whoever is reading this: I heart you for combing all the way down to #158 on my list!.
159. Don't miss the magic of the moment by focusing on what's to come. Let go & realize that it's ok to live in the moment from time to time. Don't plan. Just do.
160. Go through all your old photographs. Select ten and tape them to your kitchen cabinets. Change them every thirty days.
161. Evaluate yourself by your own standards, not someone else's.
162. Be there when people need you, & they just might be there when you need them, too.
163. Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.
164. Know when to keep silent.
165. Know when to speak up.
166. Don't flush urinals with your hand—use your elbow. This one's way too hilarious to not make the cut.
167. Acquire things the old-fashioned way: Save for them and pay cash.
168. Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who help you. Don't grow old alone.
169. Just to see how it feels, for the next twenty-four hours refrain from criticizing anybody or anything. Does sarcasm count?
170. Carry jumper cables in your car. Note to self: Get jumper cables.
171. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
172. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. Check.
173. Learn how to operate a Macintosh computer. ...PSYC! Read: Teach a Mac how to PC.
174. Remain open, flexible, curious.
175. Never acquire just one kitten. Two are a lot more fun and no more trouble. Can I quadruple bold this one?
176. Don't be intimidated by doctors and nurses. Even when you're in the hospital, it's still your body.. and don't forget that you're paying them for their services, & that makes them obliged to serve you.
177. Every once in a while, take the scenic route.
178. Don't let your possessions possess you.
179. Wage war against littering. ..starting with YOU.
180. Don't procrastinate. Do what needs doing when it needs to be done.
181. Get your priorities straight. No one ever said on his death bed, "Gee, if I'd only spent more time at the office."
182. Take care of your reputation. It's your most valuable asset. ..but don't fret over it.
183. Don't allow self-pity. The moment this emotion strikes, do something nice for someone less fortunate than you. Axe the pity party.
184. Improve your performance by improving your attitude.
185. Have a friend who owns a truck. I need to get to work on this one.
186. Make a list of twenty-five things you want to experience before you die. Carry it in your wallet and refer to it often. Why limit yourself to 25? Check things off & add more on on a continuous basis.
187. Answer the phone with enthusiasm and energy in your voice. Wait. What? My groggy hello's aren't good enough??
188. Every person that you meet knows something you don't; learn from them.
189. Tape record your parents' laughter & cherish it forever.
190. Change your car's oil and filter every three thousand miles regardless of what the owner's manual recommends.
191. Don't be afraid to say, "I made a mistake."
192. Don't be afraid to say, "I need help."
193. Don't be afraid to say, "I'm sorry."
194. Keep a note pad and pencil on your bedside table. Million-dollar ideas sometimes strike at 3 A.M.
195. Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job.
196. Don't use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.
197. Look for opportunities to make people feel important.
198. Never admit at work that you're tired, angry, or bored. Oops. Failed at this one.
199. Don't insist on running someone else's life. Do you even know how to run your own? Probably not.
200. After you've worked hard to get what you want, take the time to enjoy it.
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