One great thing about the Internet is that if you try hard enough, you never really have to come up with your own ideas. You can politely steal brilliance from other people and pawn it off as your own.
I'm doing this today.
Heather B. at No Pasa Nadawrote a post the other day titled "A Lesson Before 25."My favorite lesson from her list:
"Though you may be full of envy and jealousy, just be happy on the outside. It will make you feel better to let your friends know that their happiness is far better than your own stupidity."
So, without further ado, here's some of my own wisdom, garnered from my 25 (plus) years:
- Never underestimate the importance of correct grammar and punctuation
- As often as you can, choose to be kinder than a situation warrants
- Sending a random card/gift to someone in your life absolutely has the power to change their day, their month, their year (and yours, too)
- Give advice only (no, really, only) when you're asked for it
- Every truth can be given with tact
- Tequila in moderation, kids. Push the envelope with a lot of things but less is absolutely more when it comes to tequila.
- Paper trails can potentially kick your ass, so leave them with caution
- Make eye contact. If you're going to take the time to communicate with someone—even if it's simply with the mailman—have the civility to look them in the eye.
- I'm not one to give makeup advice, but a good mascara is not a shabby investment, my friends
- Write. Read. Travel. Explore. Learn. Teach. Laugh.
- Add a pinch of salt to all your baking recipes
- Don't do anything—drink a certain beer, listen to a certain band, wear a certain brand—because you think it'll make you look cool
- Take notes. You'll never remember all you think you will without a little help.
- Keep plans more than you cancel them
- Screw his degree or his pedigree or his choice in clothes or how he folds a towel—choose a partner who makes you laugh, who listens to you when you speak and who introduces you with a smile on his face
- Eat more vegetables and drink more water ...
- ... but don't always pass on dessert or carbs or that second glass of wine, either
- And, finally, don't gossip about your friends
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In other news, thanks for all the lovely comments on this post and this one. I sometimes want to have you all over for dinner and drinks and conversation. Maybe one day I will, but it's going to have to wait until I can drink again, too. I like you a lot, but there are few people I like enough to cook for AND serve from my champagne stash. Until then, know I'm going to keep your lovely words in my head. I won't let them be knocked out anymore.