35 THINGS I’VE LEARNED IN 35 YEARS

Today I turn 35 years old! Over the past few days I’ve taken stock and thought about the things I’ve learned in my albeit short time on this earth so far.

1. Read everyday.
2. Reread books, as your life changes so will what you learn from what you read.
3. Make your bed (and teach your kids to do the same).
4. Goals matter less than your systems, execute your plan daily and the goals take care of themselves.
5. The most important hack towards self improvement is getting good sleep.
6. Your mental health is as important as your physical health, the two reinforce each other.
7. You think about what other people think of you one thousand times more than people think about you.
8. Don’t expect others to do things your way, just keep doing things your way.
9. You’ll find love when you aren’t looking for it.
10. Relationships are defined by when one partner is in crisis and how the other reacts.
11. Parenting is hard but the greatest thing I’ve ever done. (But it’s not for everyone.)
12. Having hobbies is the key to a happy life.
13. Relaxation could be sitting on the couch watching tv, or it could be a 10-mile run. You decide.
14. You can’t teach old dogs — or old people — new tricks.
15. Making friends as an adult is hard, especially when making friends as a child was hard.
16. Life is incredibly short and you never know what will happen tomorrow.
17. It doesn’t matter if you pay your own taxes and have your own child, you will always be someones child.
18. Death is rawest form of sadness.
19. Weddings and funerals can tear a family apart or bring them together.
20. The daily news cycle can destroy you.
21. Happiness is often found in helping others.
22. Motivation follows action
23. To achieve long term goals, hit small milestones.
24. Journaling daily is like having conversations with yourself everyday.
25. Everything is figuroutable.
26. Be proud of yourself.
27. Be grateful for what you have.
28. Often times you will think that other people have it so much worse than you do, but your feelings of sadness or anger or regret are valid and important. Someone elses problem does not negate yours.
29. Give others the benefit of the doubt.
30. When it comes to habits, never miss two planned days in a row.
31. You make a lot of shit up as you go, so does everyone else.
32. Social media can be great at times. But Facebook groups are often a cesspool and if you’re in a video on YouTube never read the comments.
33. You can be picked last in gym class and still be an athlete.
34. Take, print and savior photos.
35. Choose to be happy more than sad.