51 things I learned in 51 years

This guy Matt Madeiro is 24 years old and old enough to be my son.He writes a blog I read religiously (google 3 New Leaves)I love what he has to say.His birthday was Christmas day (2 days after mine) and he posted this on his blog....he follows the paleo diet(just like me!) which you will see him refer to.I have shortened some of his comments because I have followed suit and have added another 26 things to his blog to make it 51 things I have learned in 51 years.....enjoy...don't worry....it's not as long as it sounds.

24 Things I’ve Learned in 24 Years
published on: Dec 29,2011
In honor of the vaguely esteemed and unimaginably vain Matthew Cole Madeiro, now on the tail end of his twenty-fourth birthday celebrations. When pressed with the question “and what have you learned?” Madeiro was quick to offer the list that follows:

1. Make every day count. My life mantra. This is my Big Deal — the four words that keep me smiling, walking, and trying to make a difference.

2. Common sense is not common. If it were, I wouldn’t be writing this post.

3. Ask the question. Consider this: feeling dumb/stupid/silly, you can hold that question in. Alternatively, you can risk it all, raise your hand, and ask someone who knows the answer.

4. Don’t be afraid to change. If there’s any one facet of yourself that you don’t like, change it

5. Don’t be afraid to apologize. It hurts, sometimes. It can suck. But a simple “I’m sorry” goes tremendous lengths toward saving the situation, and being able to admit when you’re wrong — that you’re not perfect — might just be key to surviving this world with your sanity intact.

6. Look back with a smile. I’ve been a sappy poet, a middle-class emo kid, and a nose-to-book library fanatic at varying points in my life. The first two are (more than) a wee bit embarrassing, but I try and look back with a smile — knowing they’ve helped shape who I am today, and knowing that all these different phases make me so incredibly, delicately human above all else.

7. Eat everything (at least once). Even the fried grasshoppers. Even the head cheese. Even the ant egg guacamole. If you only get one shot at this big, blustering, beautiful thing called life, why wouldn’t you try and explore every part of it? Why not cultivate an adventurous spirit? (This might apply to more than just food).

8. Listen to bad music. You know that modern pop song that secretly makes you want to dance? You know that song that everyone publicly craps on, but you not-so publicly enjoy? Embrace it. Three to four minutes of happiness, I think, are always worth having — even if they come from something all the cool kids like to hate.

9. You don’t always have to eat. Whether you’re hip to fasting or not, the point stands: if you’re not hungry, you don’t have to eat. No one is forcing that fork into your mouth. And it’s better, I think, to risk upsetting a friend for all of five minutes than to let peer pressure put something unhealthy on your plate.

10. Go to bed. Proper sleep is one of the few things that we truly, absolutely need, so why in the world do we sit awake in bed and check our Facebook feeds instead?

11. You can’t do everything. But you can try.

12. It’s okay to cry. Don’t let any societal misconceptions about manliness, ruggedness, nor torrential levels of testosterone convince you otherwise. If you can watch the first 15 minutes of Up and not shed a single tear, please submit yourself to science.

13. “Being thin and eating bacon is a lot better than being fat and eating bread.” You knew Paleo would creep up somewhere, right?

14. Take pleasure in simplicity. The simple things, I promise, will last you a lot longer than everything else.

15. Nothing is black and white. Don’t let the media or modern American politics suggest otherwise.

16. Don’t forget to say thanks. For your friends, for your family, for every single part of your life that has helped you become who you are today.

17. Do the work. Success only rarely happens by accident. The formula to create it, in fact, tends to involve just two ingredients: lots and lots of work, and doing it well. This is a good thing.

18. Keep your phone in your pocket. We’ve come to rely on them as easy escapes — easy ways to distract ourselves whenever we’re bored, uncomfortable, etc. Rather than falling back to your iPhone, then, why not try and actively change the situation? Why not try and live life, then, instead of reading other people’s tweets about it?

19. The world is not out to get you. It’s easy to think otherwise, sure, when TV and the media paint life in a pretty harsh light: a murder on every corner, seething violence in the big city, and every dark alley a home to something that most definitely wants you dead. This might come as a surprise, but you’re not surrounded by villains. The people around you, in fact, are far more similar than you might think: a little nervous, a little hungry, and desperately wanting to be happy — and, y’know, alive — for as long as possible.

20. Slow down. We get wrapped up in this life of productivity, going as fast as possible from the minute we first sit up in bed. Here’s a different take: go slow. Realize that nothing happens overnight, and realize too that you have a long, full life to accomplish everything you’d like to do. (Coincidentally, I am terrible at this).

21. Don’t be afraid to take a break. Following from the point above, don’t be afraid to take some time off and recharge.

22. Never stop learning.

23. You get one shot. That’s debatable, sure, but the idea is a useful one. Realize that you might only get one shot at this and act accordingly. Work hard, play hard, and try and expose yourself to as many things — as many ideas, dishes, countries and personalities — as possible. I think I’d rather look back on a long, full life than one spent too afraid to live it.

24. Be kind to yourself. If there were one message I could imprint on every person, young and old, who populates this planet, this would be it.

25.Develop a spiritual life...you will be so glad you did.Stability comes from within.

26.Own a pet.They teach us compassion and unconditional love.

27.Read....It is never a waste of time.

28.Learn how to use a computer....I know,I know....I am showing my age here.

29.Get a massage...or two or three..it is so good for you...it no longer is a luxury...yes this is coming from a seasoned massage therapist.

30.Speak your truth...even if it is scary.

31.Take time to look at the moon...even if it is just a sliver in the sky.you will be amazed at how peaceful it is.

32.Listen to your gut.If it feels wrong,it probably is.

33.Sing in the shower.

34.Try not to worry about stuff.If you must worry,allow 10 minutes a day...that's it.

35.Fire your friends...if they take advantage of you,if they don't treat you well,get rid of them.You deserve better...and better will come.

36.Drink water....it's good for you.

37.Talk to someone...if you need help or feel down,grab a friend and have a chat...or get a good therapist...life is hard sometimes.We don't have to go at it alone.

38.Grow your own food.That way you will not be eating any pesticides unless you put them on the plants yourself.

39.Change your hairstyle.Right now I am thinking dreds....yes really.

40.Routines are nice....I like them...but every now and then we have to break out..that's nice too.

41.Work at a soup kitchen....at least once.Compassion for humanity lives there.

42.Practice lovingkindness.Send prayers and loving thoughts to others...even your enemies or people who bug you.You will be surprised at how it makes you feel.

43. Open your mind....there is a big fat world out there for you to know.

44.Buy a journal......and maybe even write in it.

45.Watch a foreign film.....I suggest Babbet's Feast.

46.Pay Attention...if you don't, you might miss something.

47.Play...if you don't remember how to,hang out with some kids for a while.

48.Know when enough is enough...

49.Dance in the moonlight! (Thanks Van Morrison)

50.Take care of your relationships...all of them.

51.Love...God is love....love is all there is....