30

06/10/2015

A few years ago, I began using birthdays as a reminder to share key lessons from the previous twelve months. It’s been a practice of reflection and organizing thoughts. This list took a bit more time. Turning thirty seems to be one of life’s bold punctuations.

It would take too many words to capture everything, but these are a few things I wanted to remember:

  1. Hope and fear are equally powerful. The only person who decides which to focus upon, is you.
  2. Look into someone’s eyes more than you look at a screen.
  3. Your body isn’t replaceable. Treat it as such.
  4. You should fight for your family more than you fight with your family.
  5. Love people quickly. Fall in love slowly.
  6. Your work is only as good as your rest.
  7. Home is found where you have memories and you can be yourself. It should have little to do with material things.
  8. Just because the world is at war doesn’t mean we have to be.
  9. The most creative thing you can do, is play.
  10. Commitment breeds passion. It rarely works the other way.
  11. Great stories come from pursuing audacious ideas, not just thinking about them.
  12. Bitterness is rarely about someone or something else. You can let it go. And, in most cases, you should.
  13. Never skimp on anything between you and the ground. This includes shoes, mattresses, and tires.
  14. Sometimes, you think you will have found a shortcut for healthy eating, exercise and sleep. Chances are, you’re wrong.
  15. A few nice things are better than a lot of mediocre things.
  16. A lot of nice things dilutes the value of the most important things.
  17. Travel just enough to know how small you are and how much of a privilege it is.
  18. Takers make it to the top, but so do givers. The difference is who’s with you when you arrive and what you’ll leave behind.
  19. Don’t take yourself too seriously. In the grand scheme of things, it’s going to be ok. Enjoy these days.
  20. Inspiration doesn’t last. When it strikes, act quickly.
  21. Never make big decisions when you’re tired or alone.
  22. No one cares about your work as much as you do. This is both sobering and empowering.
  23. You don’t need more to do what you must. You probably need less.
  24. Find a couple of outfits you like. Make them your uniform. But, find one unique thing you can change that provides a dose of creativity & delight (socks, sneakers, watches, glasses, etc)
  25. Find something you like to make. Make it often. Then, throw everything away that’s not remarkable.
  26. Always have live flowers or plants in your living space. Remember, you’re not the only thing alive.
  27. Emails should rarely be more than five sentences. Everyone has better things to do than read or write more email.
  28. Comparison isn’t all bad. Just make sure you’re comparing to the right things.
  29. It’s helpful to remember people aren’t perfect. This means every interaction with a person will either make life better or worse for both of you.
  30. Your ability and willingness to reflect on the past will directly impact your ability and willingness to envision the future.

Here’s to growing older…and, hopefully, growing wiser.