Life Principles

I am not a guru, or an expert. I am not a psychologist, and I do not offer advice to anyone. In fact, I think I might need a therapist since I am writing this like I am talking to someone else. 😁I do not even know if I have my life together yet. However, I am 45 years old and I have seen a lot. I have not seen all, but I have met, had conversations, discussed life with people from all ages. I do not do it anymore, but it used to be my favorite thing to talk to older people than me. I am talking about people who were 30 plus years older than me. 

After my dad,  my mom, and my father-in-law died, I seemed to have stopped. I guess I still talk to my aunt but she lives so far away that I only see her a couple of times a year. I guess, if I am not speaking to older people anymore, it may be because I am the old person now. 🤣

Life Principles. Yes, there are certain rules, informal guidelines that I have followed my entire life that have worked really well for me. I guess not my entire life, but my entire adult life. Here they are. This is for you, imaginary person who is reading this sometime in the future.  

1. No one owes you anything. If you hear  the opposite from a group or individual, time to separate yourself from them.  

2. Hard work pays off. It is simple, work hard and work smart.  

3. Respect is earned not given. You want to be respected by friends, family, coworkers, then act the part. Earn their respect. But first respect yourself.  

4. Life is hard. Accept it. Your job is to make it suck less.  

5. You are worth it. Be humble, but know with certainty that you are worth more than anyone else out there.  

6. You deserve better. Be humble, but don't let others get in the way.  

7. Nothing is free. NOTHING. 

8. Don't be part of the problem. Always be part of the solution. If you are the problem, change it. You have the power.  

9. Things that come easy are usually not worth it.

10. Treat others the way you like to be treated. But, don't be stupid. Turn the other cheek does not work.  

11. Your WORD is your currency. Your word is your bond to yourself and others.  

12. Your values, moral, and integrity and unbendable, unshaken, unbreakable by anyone or anything. If someone or anything tries to break, bend, shake them, it is time for you to distance yourself. 

13. Love and respect everything and everyone, but love and respect yourself always first.  

14. Celebrate other people's differences without forgetting what makes you unique. 

15. Think critically. There is always two sides to the coin. 

16. Do not believe anything anyone says. 

17. Honor. It is a thing. A very good thing. 

I wonder if I am going to tell my wife, kids, family, and friends that I am writing. Probably not. 🤣