Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Is 55 years old old?

It’s older than 54 other years, 55 laps will teach you a thing or two… my birthday is today and here are my 55 lessons I’d like to share…

What I’ve learned:

1. Coping with failure is much more important than celebrating success.

2. Kids know everything by the time they’re 15; be there for them when they forget it all.

3. Don’t be your own boss for the money; be your own boss for the freedom.

4. Make sure that in the book of life, you have plenty of chapters dedicated to helping others.

5. Dogs and cats are furry stories of love and humor. Embrace each one like the gifts they are.

6. Love your mom and dad; forgive if you have to, apologize when needed, and realize you only exist because of their decisions.

7. You are loved by few or maybe many; cherish those who do and love them back.

8. Check in with those you love—your friends, family, whomever they are. A five-minute chat can be the glue that keeps you connected. Don’t wait for the call; make the call.

9. No matter how dark it might feel, the sun rises in the morning, and so should you. Get up and let your mornings matter.

10. Do the hard stuff; you’ll realize starting is the hardest part.

11. You can’t tell your kids how to be; you can only show them with your actions. You will fail, and so will they; be okay with that.

12. Love is your greatest gift. The love you give to those around you will be remembered long after you’re gone.

13. Learn how to tell a story and live your life in a way that’s worthy of being told.

14. Look your fears right in the eye. Do not flinch, and know they are likely fears only in your mind and will probably never be realized.

15. Customer service and resetting passwords will likely steal a year off your life. It is what it is.

16. Having someone who thinks about you first thing in the morning and before they fall asleep is one of life’s best experiences.

17. Do the hard stuff when life is hard.

18. Lingerie is to men what flowers are to women.

19. Things and stuff are so overrated.

20. Wake up and have coffee immediately.

21. Eat a lot of blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries.

22. Jump into cold water.

23. Thank everyone you can.

24. Mind over matter; you’re one decision from changing your life. Make it.

25. Pack light when traveling; you’ll thank yourself later.

26. Be on time; the message you send by being late sucks and can make you unlikable.

27. Cold showers are like a restart for your operating system—have them often.

28. Alcohol is one big giant scam; it just sucks. Do yourself a favor and quit.

29. A clean car and a made bed go a long way in feeling good about yourself.

30. Watching pro sports is a colossal waste of time; don’t squander your time on others playing with their balls.

31. Your body, mind, and time are the greatest assets you have; treat them like it.

32. Simplify your life: declutter not just your physical space but also your emotional life. Focus on what truly matters to you.

33. You’ll make big mistakes—ones you’ll likely remember forever. Learn the lesson and move on; almost every bad decision can be recoverable.

34. Let time be your ally. Know that hardships will require patience, and that patience will allow for solutions to emerge.

35. As hard as it seems, embrace change and newness. We are creatures of habit but grow from change.

36. Being a good father is life’s great reward. Be yourself, love your kids, and know that they need you more than you’ll ever know.

37. Enjoy bathing your dog.

38. Put together your life’s playlist—the 20 songs that speak to you and your life—and listen to them often.

39. Do today what you could easily put off until tomorrow.

40. Be outside; the sun charges your body and mind.

41. Road trips are better than airports and flying.

42. Don’t waste your time trying to make people like you; spend it making yourself likable.

43. Learn a few jokes and tell them; we’ve lost the art of joke-telling.

44. Don’t use filters on your pictures. Life is about to get really fake out there—don’t participate.

45. Hug and love like you mean it.

46. Talk to strangers.

47. Be kind to the people who serve you; an honest thank you means a lot.

48. God is there for you; live in gratitude, pray often, and know billions of people would swap spots with you in a minute.

49. Never take this country for granted; pay attention to politics and don’t think for a minute that they can’t ruin the country we live in.

50. Find reward in simple tasks: washing dishes, cleaning the house, yard work—whatever little things make you feel accomplished.

51. Exercise your start-finish muscle. Not starting means nothing happens; not finishing means pretty much the same.

52. Quit using the word "try."

53. Bowling makes everyone happy for a few hours.

54. Realize it takes an hour of hard exercise to burn off three cokes.

55. Don’t live an easy life; the challenges you take define you, shape you, and fortify your soul.

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