45 Things + 5
Recently on The Dare To Dream Podcast I spoke about a blog article I wrote 8 years ago titled, “45 Things + 5.” I wrote it as more of a stream of consciousness on my 45th birthday. All of my life lessons up to that point. Going through old files, I ran across it again and it reminded me of what’s important. We get off track sometimes and I guess this was my 45 year old self telling me to not take myself so seriously and enjoy the life I’ve lived. Several people have asked about the article, so I decided to republish it. I hope you get some lessons out of it too.
45 Things
1. Figure out who you are
2. Being nice is a lot less maintenance than being mean
3. Friend older people and listen for the gems
4. Give your significant other a great life
5. Immediate family comes first
6. Be selfish with your time
7. Gossiping will find its way back to you
8. Eating crap, makes you feel and look like crap
9. Pick exercises you like and do those
10. Get rid of clothes, jobs and people in your life that don't fit anymore
11. You have a lot more acquaintances, than friends
12. Don't freak out, the result is worse
13. People remember you how they saw you last
14. If it feels weird, it's weird
15. Fear is why we don't do things and why we do things
16. Walking daily will help you solve all of the world's problems
17. How you imagine it, is not the same as real life
18. Stay out of other people's drama
19. If you are running out of people to call, you probably complain too much
20. Simplifying your life is a daily practice
21. If someone hires you to do a job, do it
22. Your significant other will change, but not how you think
23. Buy the best quality you can afford
25. Your parents don't owe you anything and you don't owe them anything
26. Be alone with yourself
27. Some people are jerks
28. Stay out of the past, it's not what you remember
29. Things just happen sometimes. That's it.
30. When feeling compelled to retaliate, do the opposite
31. Losing weight takes longer every year
32. Quit your job for the better one, then do it again
33. Love your pets and they will save you
34. Achieve your goals, no matter how long it takes
35. Fighting keeps your problems longer
36. If you are looking for something wrong, you will find it
37. Wait 24 hours before responding to an angry text or email
38. Everyone is, should be and will be a consultant
39. More than one person loses when you make fun of them
40. Half your life is spent unlearning what your parents taught you
41. Friendship takes maintenance
42. Don't let employers dumb down your achievements
43. Stop trying to be all of these different people, pick the few that you like
44. Make your own money
45. Share what you've learned with others
46. Get a flower guy, everyone loves flowers
47. Be clean and dress nice, you'll be surprised how your day changes
48. Searching for someone to blame gets harder
49. Take care of your body, it needs to last awhile
50. Choose silence in times of saying something you'll regret
51. If not you, then who