Facts of Lyfe
I’m 22, and I probably don’t have that much advice to offer. But if I had kids, this is what I’d tell them:
- Waffles, anytime.
- End every night with punk rock. Misfits pandora is the easiest way to go.
- Cussing isn’t bad. Being vulgar is.
- Don’t sweat the small stuff.
- Any mess can be cleaned up.
- Treat every woman with respect until they show you they don’t deserve it. If a girl is acting like they’re hot stuff but manipulative, you have my permission to treat them like they’re irrelevant. The lack of attention will drive them crazy, and hopefully humble them.
- The best litmus test of a good friend, a best friend, is loyalty. If anyone tries to get close to you, then drops you… then, you don’t have to write them off if you don’t want to, but to protect your heart, I wouldn’t let them get close again until they realize what they did and apologize sincerely.
- Everyone deserves a second chance. And a third. And a fourth. And so on. But never get trampled.
- Never start a fight. Don’t be afraid to end one with everything you have. The crazier you seem, the more likely someone will back down. But honestly, most everything can be solved with words. Its ridiculous how communication can solve so many problems. The only reason I see fit for fighting is for someone else. You can be pushed, offended, embarrassed, hurt, and still calm everything down with a yawn and a smile. Its a science.
- Keep you focus and never compromise. Don’t even let love compromise who you are.
- If you get a girlfriend or boyfriend, don’t disappear off the face of the planet to be with them. Your friends will hate you, and for good reason. It shows disloyalty and selfish qualities. Those friendships should be important to your relationship.
- Don’t get caught slippin’.
- If you ever serve in a restaurant, don’t worry if you drop stuff. You’ll never stop doing that, no matter how long you serve. Being embarrassed is shit.
- Make sure you know your limits. Especially when it comes to drinking and relationships. Knowing the difference between infatuation and reality is the key to relationships. Carefully gauging your tolerance around safe people and good friends is how you handle drinking. Its not that bad to go crazy for a bit when you are of age. Its how you learn. Holding your alcohol down, or at least appearing like you do, is way more attractive to others than the alternative.
- You can make mistakes. Just don’t let your mistakes control who you are. Forgive yourself. And if others don’t forgive you, I’m sorry. But learn and change from mistakes, and move on. If people don’t wanna let you move on, move on without them.
- God is important. But figure that out for yourself. Don’t let anyone else, including me, dictate how to live to you.
- Be original by enjoying yourself, not by being different for the sake of being different. Thats called posing.
- Don’t make long lists with bullet points.
- Always push yourself to the next level. Adapt or die.
- A good friend is someone who calls you out when they have nothing to gain. A good response is to listen. But always take it in the context of how loyal they are to you. Not every Joe or Jane off the street deserves a guest spot to your heart. Make sure they’re solid and caring. If you’re too proud to at least listen and consider realistically, you’re a terrible friend.
- Go on an adventure whenever you need to, even if its alone. Its part of staying sane.
- Its not hard to graduate early, but its even easier to graduate late.
- Don’t fuck with a teacher until they have deserved to lose your respect. So many people just do that to be cool. Its easier to realize that educators are just real people who are doing their job. Treat them like normal people, and you’ll be respected.
- Education is the ultimate arms race in the world, and it hasn’t stopped. Value it, and pay it forward. Don’t ever take learning for granted. That is one of the highest forms of ignorance.
- Always think people know it when you lie, or are being a one-upper, or are being elitist/condescending. That way you never do it. People pick up on those things.
- Put everything and everyone in proper context as much as you can. Understanding things leads to good decisions, treating people right, and loving people properly.
- Take care of people when you can. If that means you buy McDonalds breakfast for someone who wasn’t awake at that hour, or buying a drink for the person who is always buying other people’s drinks, do it. Show people they are appreciated and valued when you can. Take care of them, and they’ll take care of you. Its better to take care of people more than they take care of you.
- Money is just money. You won’t die if you don’t have enough. Not in America. We have a lot of social help out there that many don’t know about to take advantage of. But wealth should be used to help people. And if you don’t have it, who can you help?
- Do everything with excellence. It doesn’t matter if its taking the BAR exam to be a lawyer, or washing dishes in the back of an El Pollo Loco. Do it with excellence. Hard work is never ignored, and it is never unrewarded. Show your strong character whenever you can.
- Don’t sue people for bullshit reasons.
- Spam isn’t a bad food. Just make it right.
- If you think you’re spending to much time inside, or on the internet, or in front of the T.V. …you are. Get outside dude.
- Going to the movies alone isn’t a bad experience. Eating alone in a restaurant kinda blows though.
- Don’t drink when you’re sad. Just push through it, or get around good people.
- Not talking is totally ok.
- Know when your emotions are lying about your actual reality. Be logical, but not void.
- Make sure you get tattoos that won’t ruin your future. If you’re unsure of your future, then wait.
- Patient people always get the goods. Complainers and assholes might get stuff faster. But no one likes them.
- Smiling is pretty sweet.
- Not many people like those who spout off their shallow advice. You don’t have to have all the answers. Its more respectable and loving to me when someone can just be honest that they don’t know the answer, or even how I feel when I go through some ish’. But their willingness to just sit with me through stuff speaks way more. Those are the ones you hold on to.
- Be honest with yourself, and who you are. Figure out who you are, and remind yourself as often as you can who that is.
- Don’t take from anyone what isn’t yours.
- Don’t owe anyone anything if you can help it.
- If you don’t have the money for it, don’t by it.
- Always treat kids well. They seem to be damaged so easy. No one deserves that.
