Sometime in my 20's, someone handed me a "Xeroxs copy" [a photocopy] of someone's idea of RULES FOR LIFE. I really liked the concept, but didn't like that persons "Rules for Life". So I wrote my own. I came up with six right away (including 2 from his list), then over time I got it up to 10. For some reason I got stuck at the 10 mark, like I couldn't have 11 or 9. [I'm much better now].
Later in life I showed the list to my girlfriend and she added three right off the bat. I struggled with the concept there must only be 10. She convinced me there is no limit on such things. She was right, I finally relented and broke the limit I had set for myself.
Several decades later, and while playing with my computer, I found some very old Microsoft word Docs, that couldn't be opened with the current version. [Microsoft sucks!] Finally I found a program that would open them. and I converted then all to PDF's. As I looked through them, I found my old Rules for Life, all 15 of them. It was a cool blast to the past to review it now, some 20+ years later.
I've added more since then, and this is the current version as of Feb 2017.
1 Surround yourself with good, honest, honorable people
2 Trust your gut, minimize compromise, but always seek to understand
3 Carpa Diem, Carpa Nocturne
4 Be true to yourself always, know yourself and what you want and need.
5 Dress the part
6 Become expert at something and continually expand your knowledge base, love to learn.
7 Eat well - No sugar, High protein, greens, minimal carbs, Light on Alcohol
8 Love... embrace it, cherish it, commit to it 100% (it’s very rare)
9 Learn, Teach, then teach how to teach
10 People must earn your trust and loyalty, then give it back to them, times 10 over.
11 Make your bed perfectly every morning
12 Don’t try to change people, that’s not your job. Don’t let other try to change you. Real change comes from within.
13 Don’t allow your self to settle or get in a rut. Change things up, stay fresh, embrace new things. Push yourself!
14 Travel, explore, try new things
15 Stay healthy, stay strong, stay fit, think young.
16 Follow the Seven Virtues of Bushido - Morality, Courage, Benevolence, “Rei” (politeness or respect), Honesty, Honor, Loyalty
17 Combat mindset, OODA LOOP (observe, orient, decide, and act), always have a plan.
18 Help others on the path - Bodhisattva, Remember those who helped you.
19 Have a creative outlet, writing, singing, photography, film making, painting, ceramics, sewing, woodworking, sculpting
20 Hate the sin, not the sinner, don’t confuse the two.
21 Complete projects
22 Learn to cook
23 Take time to look at the stars, the clouds, the trees, the waves, the mountains
24 Kill your TV, (it's called programming for a reason)
25 Strive to be better, a better human, a better lover, a better friend, a better son or daughter, a better parent. Be the best you can be!
