Monday 8 July 2013

THE DO’S AND DONT’S OF LIVING

Dear Daughter,
I don’t claim to know everything, yet I feel it would be a crime on my part to leave you with no advice whatsoever.

This thing they call life, it’s a wonderful thing. Not a bouquet of rainbows, but something like sour candy. Its tangy,sweet, full of sudden pops of flavour and sometimes way more than your taste buds can handle.

See, but the thing is, I’ve seen folks give up hope way too early in their journey and that disheartens me. I want you to choose a life of optimism, believe that miracles happen and dream of better days to come.

DO’s
1. Shine like the Sun: I want you to literally GLOW. Be that person who enters a room and sets it on fire. Be a showstopper. Don’t be an underling, allowing opportunity to pass you by while you sigh in silent regret. Speak, scream if you have to, but don’t let your opinions go unheard. All the greatest souls that ever lived fought for what they believed in. Except Hitler. That guy was just plain mean.
2. Never stop learning: The man who believes he knows everything, is a fool. You can never know enough, because as long as you’re alive, you are still life’s student. Every second is 60 bytes of brand new information you will never receive anywhere else. Have a curious mind and an insatiable appetite for knowledge. Let experience teach you what burns your fingers and what doesn’t.
3. The Good Samaritan approach: Be that person who heals and expects nothing in return. I don’t expect you to build a career in medicine to do so. Instead, always extend a helping hand and a ready shoulder. Sometimes a gentle hug can heal what pills cannot.
4. Mutual funds are subject to market risks. A solid character isn’t. : Strive to build your character more than anything else. Honesty, Integrity and Humility are essential soul-vitamins. Be the person who leaves behind an example, a testimony of greatness. Others will see and try to become like you then. That, dear child, is how YOU can make the world a better place.
5. Networking: The world is full of interesting people. Funny people, depressed people, wackadoodle people, quiet people, brilliant people, violent people, nice people, and Nicki Minaj. The science of psychology never ceases to fascinate and enthral me. Make loads of friends and talk to everyone you see. Each person has their own story, their very own indigenous novel. To ensure that you fully see and understand this complex being known as HUMAN, push yourself to interact with and study the species.

DONT’S
1. Don’t say NO to change. : Change is good! Change is necessary. You may catch yourself making excuses and running away from an opportunity. I agree that it may seem scary at first, or there may be that huge element of risk. Toss a coin, and take that huge leap of faith.
2. Don’t be a hater : While growing up, I’d watch my people judge and ridicule each other and that made me very sad. When you find yourself growing jealous or coveting another’s good fortune, pinch yourself and choose to be happy for them. Congratulate your neighbour on his new job, or send a thankyou card to your classmate. Spread some luuuurrrvvvee.
3. Don’t never not give up : I must say I owe the idea for this subtitle to some friends of mine. Don’t give up on your studies, your dreams, your future and more importantly, yourself. Hard work is painful, but its results taste way better than the bitter realization that you lost out.
4. Don’t let anyone steal your thunder. : Critics are everywhere. At home, at school, at work. People tend to constantly detect your flaws over all your goodness. While constructive criticism is healthy and of the utmost importance, I trust you to perceive the difference. The minute you recognize a  hater, take two steps back, two steps to your left, three to the right and walk away.
5. Don’t regret, instead fix it. : Life will be full of regrets, and you will constantly wish you could’ve done things differently. I’d rather you let me tell you to stop brooding over your mistakes than learn for yourself that time spent regretting is time wasted. Decide what you learnt from the experience and vow to never make the same mistakes. Then, move on.

 I’m sure there are plenty more life lessons out there, but these are your guidelines in a capsule.  Life is a simple thing, all you gotta do is live it.

Always a big fan of yours,
-Me