30 pieces of unsolicited advice
July 31 was my birthday π. I completed my 30th trip around the sun. Is it just me or are they whizzing right on by?
Anyways, I'm reflecting a lot and feeling a bit obnoxious.
So I compiled a list for you. What does this list consist of?
Read on.
I am going to share 1 bit of "advice" for each year of my life up to this point. Some of it will seem obvious (then why aren't you doing it?). Some of it may be unpopular. You may even chuckle once or twice. And I hope a few resonate with you.
Make sure you read to the end. There could be a surprise waiting for you.
Why would you have reason to read any further?
I just told you why...there might be a SURPRISE.
And I have found them useful. So I encourage you to read what follows with an open mind. Reject what doesn't sit well with you. And test 1 out today for yourself to see what happens.
Sound fair?
Very well. Let's proceed.....
Stop taking yourself so damn seriously. Life is a game and games are supposed to be fun. Also decide what game you want to play so you know if you are winning or losing.
Make one person smile every day π. It will improve both of your days more than you think.
Visit your parents more than you have been (if you are lucky enough to still have them around). You have already spent 90% of all the time you will get with them after your 18th birthday. Make that last 10% count.
Read one book per month (two if you include a picture book). On any topic you want. Do this and you will read 1,000 books in your lifetime. Think that could have an impact?
Sit up straight and close your eyes for 10 minutes a day. Don't call it meditationπ§ββοΈ. It will change you.
Lift heavy weights. All you need is a barbell. Do squats and deadlifts. Everything else is a waste of time.
Work in sales. Sales skills make you better at everything you do.
Write. About anything. It helps you snatch those thoughts out of your head. You don't want them stuck up there forever.
Do one cringe-worthy thing each day. You won't die. It will build your confidence.
People don't care about you. They are WAY too busy caring about themselves. Enjoy the freedom.
Remember family and friends birthday. Add it to their contact info on your phone. Set a reminder every year. So you never miss another one. And they will love you forever.
Stop buying stuff. You return to your base level of happiness shortly after the initial high. No matter how significant the purchase (house, car, watch, etc.).
Purge your closet regularly. If you haven't worn that shirt π in the past year then toss it. You will never wear it again.
Go first. Everyone is nervous. Make the first move. They will open up. And meet cool π people.
Follow your curiosity. Even if it seems stupid to everyone else. You never know where it will lead you.
Talk less, smile more. Nuff said.
Be interested, not interesting. People would much rather tell you a story than listen to yours.
Be a good hype man/woman. Raise others energy levels by giving them genuine words of encouragement.
Go outside. Spend more time in nature than you currently are. You need it.
Travel alone. You will learn more about yourself in one week than you would in 10 years of traveling with someone close to you.
Do wild shit. As long as you don't die, it will always result in a good story. And it could be an even better story if you do die.
Tip $100. Do this somewhere where the worker would never expect it. It will make their week and you will NEVER forget it.
Smile π. This sounds stupid but it works. Especially when you don't feel so hot. You will notice a difference within 30 seconds. Try this one RIGHT NOW!
Fast one day per month. You don't need to stuff your face with all that junk (all that junk inside that trunk). You will survive if you miss a meal or two. In fact, you'll probably live longer (I'm not a doctor but I can play one on the internet).
Think "I love you" to strangers. Do this in your head when you walk by someone. They have no idea what you just did. But you will feel good. I imagine that I'm shooting people with invisible love lasers. It makes walking around way more fun.
Go somewhere completely foreign to you. Preferably a different country where you can't understand the language (bonus points if you can't read the signs). Don't do any research before you go. Just show up. And enjoy the adventure.
NEVER watch the news. You will still know everything you need to know about what's going on. I still found out about COVID without turning on CNN once. You don't need to know all the "breaking" news occuring all around the world. Plus, you aren't a political commentator (if you are then you should do something else).
Don't just do something, stand there! Take some time to chill. You need a minute to digest everything going on around you.
Write letters (by hand). When is the last time you wrote a letter? If it's been more than a decade then it's time to pull out those stamps. Send it to someone important to you without any warning and imagine how it will brighten their day.
Stop trying so hard. This is a strange paradox. When you lift your nose from the grindstone you will get better results. Let go. Look up. And enjoy the moment.
Are you still here?
How many of those do you agree with? I hope more than 0 but less than 30. You shouldn't agree with everything I say.
But the whole point of this was to get you to think differently.
Did I accomplish that?
Let me know.
P.S. - If you have read more than one of these posts and still haven't subscribed then you really otta check yourself.
P.P.S. - What about the surprise? Venmo request me (@armank) for a dollar and I will fulfill your order within 24 hours.
P.P.P.S. - As always, no small boy stuff here.