Guide to Life V.1

This is the first draft of the start to my own Guide to Life. Comments and disagreements are welcome. Especially if you find them a little too pat or cheesy.

You are not responsible for anyone who can reasonably be presumed to be able to take care of and think for himself/herself.

Sure, you get a good job, earn a decent wage and be happy. But to be truly alive, especially if the job just pays your bills, make sure you don't lose sight of the horizons you saw when you were younger and work to get closer to them, broadening them even more. If necessary, refuse to grow up.

Don't be proud of ignorance.

Speak clearly, write with clarity and text as clearly as possible. Otherwise, not just do you show lack of clarity of thought you also end up with a lazy mind. No greater crime.

Don't depend too much on friends. It's good they're there and dependable and support you. But learn to love your own company, seek your own advice and help. You'll raise yourself in their eyes. More importantly, in your own too.

If you do depend on them too much, sooner or later you'll feel they've let you down. It WILL happen. Lower your expectations. Decrease your chances of disappointment.

But when you do feel let down, get over it. You don't know everything.

Pick up the cheque. If someone fights for it too much, yield gracefully. If you don't have enough cash on you, let your friend pay. It's okay. You'll treat them next time.

Don't go too much out of your way for people. Certainly not as a habit. They don't deserve it. They'll take you for granted and you deserve better.

Smoking and drinking. Just so you do it with your eyes open. Don't crib when you get cancer or cirrhosis. Like to smoke and drink? Light one up, have a drink or two. But know that three packs and 6 drinks a day will definitely do what a few smokes and drinks in a while only just might.

Learn a foreign language. It'll open up a whole new world for you. Really.

Love without reason (Also reason without love). You will be hurt. Take it on the chin. But don't presume the next person who comes along to be just as bad. It's unfair. Faith is the one thing you have to have to make a relationship. Have faith in the person, even if the last one was a bastard/bitch.

Try and be on time as much as possible. Others might have plans too.

Absence and ignorance. They are the worst possible excuses to rely on. Those who are absent are always in the wrong. Those who are ignorant have no business being present.

Be straight with people as much as possible. Unless you're a serial killer, you have nothing to hide. People may judge you, but they can't sentence you.

Work to discover that virtually anything's possible. Virtually any obstacle is surmountable. You only have to get your mind in the right place to figure that out.

There are good jobs out there for anyone who can do them. Don't waste time. Don't waste your life. Walk away from a bad job in the secure belief there're many for you too.

Help people whenever you can. Don't excuse yourself by expressing your inability to help everyone. Help someone. It'll come around to you.

If you see someone being treated unfairly, it's up to you to speak up. The victim might find himself unable. If you don't, you're pretty much just as culpable.