10 Things I would Want Some People to Know

A little while back, a few friends of mine blogged respectively on 10 Things Every Teenager Girl/Guy Should Know. One even went viral as a result of being tweeted by Alyssa Milano (If you don’t remember her, it’s time to Google). If you are looking for a much better (if not much more consistent) blog than this one you can check it out here:

http://kateelizabethconner.com/ten-things-i-want-to-tell-teenage-girls/

                Those blogs got me thinking. First, how can I go viral? Second, is my envy of those that do go viral Biblical? Just kidding…maybe. Really, my thoughts went to this- if I could have changed the trajectory of my own life, what would I have needed to know? Also, what has carried me furthest in life. Thus, the quest at hand.  And since David Letterman and now the Conner family have made the Top 10 list a norm in our society, I thought I would stick with the same format. In no particular order, here are 10 things I would want some people to know.

*Disclaimer: I used some vs. the word all because I am aware this list will not solve all of your problems, get stains out of you laundry, or help you buy beach front property.

1) Be a gentleman. Yes, it is old-fashioned to open doors for people or to say “Yes sir” and “No ma’am.” Still, I would say those things have taken me further in life than most others. In a world where new is always considered better, there are reasons why certain things stay with us for a long time. Manners help and politeness will get you further in life. You will be different from others and stand out from the crowd. That’s not a bad thing.

2) Live like there is a tomorrow.

“My parents live in Ohio. I, live in the Moment.” –Ted/HIMYM

Tomorrow, your body will hurt. Tomorrow, that person whose trust you betrayed will still be devastated. Tomorrow, you will need money to pay the power bill. Fun today never erases the regrets of tomorrow.

3) Its okay to NOT be cool. I know what you’re thinking. You’re just saying this because you’re not cool. That would certainly be a true statement. Still, “cool” is a continually moving target. As soon as you get the new clothes, others will take their place. The “must have’s” of today will be the jokes of future generations. By the way, skinny jeans are one of the many regrets of the 80’s (as are leg warmers). Skip the cool and go for original.

4) Don’t get jaded.

“Nice guys finish last.” –Leo Durocher   

  Well, he really didn’t say last for you baseball purists, but that is beside the point. As has been well documented by countless number of teen movies from the 80’s to the present, the jerks get all the ladies, popularity, blah, blah, blah. I don’t know if it’s true, but it is our perception. Possible responses to this perception in society: A) Put on flannel, move to Seattle and brood or B) Make you sure you live a life that you can be proud of. In reality, you can be a nice person and not finish last.

5) Don’t let your highs be too high or your lows too low. Stitch it on a pillow or put in on a bumper sticker, it’s a mantra that makes a difference. If the only two choices you face are, “Best Day Ever” or “Worst Day Ever,” life is going to be a constant roller coaster. Life isn’t meant to be lived in extremes, no matter what Mountain Dew commercials might say.

6) Enjoy the journey. It will make the destination that much better. So many memories are made on the way to somewhere. Speed limits are higher, planes are faster, and the world is now smaller. On your journey to graduation, marriage, or even vacation is where much of life is lived. Relationships are developed. Lessons are learned. Beauty is shown.  The destination means so much more if you enjoy the time and distance you have to cover to get there.

7) Start saving money now. All jokes aside about your wife or girlfriend costing a lot of money, this is advice that will make a difference. Don’t buy on impulse today so that you will be able to make a quality buy tomorrow. There are more rainy days that you need to save for than you could ever imagine.

8) Don’t make up lists for your ideal spouse. It is not a job application. You don’t need to see a resume’. So often I hear things like, “the woman I’m going to marry will go hunting with me, watch sports with me, roots for (fill in the blank) college football team.” You will know your future wife/husband when you meet them. A laundry list of qualities that someone could never possibly live up to, are unfair to the people you meet and will leave you lonely for a lot longer than you would like.

9) Tell people how you feel. You might not be that kind of guy. Get over yourself. Other people need to know that you care about them. It makes a difference in other people’s lives to hear phrases like: thank you, I love you, you make a difference. There will come a time when it is too late. All the words that you thought but didn’t express won’t make a difference because you held them to yourself.

10) Stop feeling sorry for yourself. While you are hosting “pity parties,” the world continues to turn. You will burn more bridges than you ever build by looking for others to validate your existence. Share what you want on Facebook or Twitter. That will forever be the snapshot of your life that you provide to others. Most people have a ready excuse for their driver’s license photo. They say things like, “It was a bad hair day,” or “I wasn’t ready.” As you troll through your choice of social media, are you proud of the portrait you have painted?