“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” -Howard Thurman
Every so often I come across other people's work that, for one reason or another, really strikes a chord with me and, sometimes, I feel that certain works deserve a bit more of spotlight.
One person that I find to have a really interesting take on life and issues, generally speaking, is a writer, musician, and scholar by the name of John Perry Barlow. Quite some years ago, he wrote what he refers to as his 25 adult principles to live by and, without question, these are values that, if they were universally accepted and adhered to, could help humanity achieve a very different world than what we now have.
On that note and since these values have had very little publication (in an organized listed fashion) since they were originally conceived, I have decided to diverge from my normal topics and re-publish this list of values today.
1. Be patient. No matter what.
2. Don't badmouth: Assign responsibility, not blame. Say nothing of another you wouldn't say to them.
3. Never assume that motives of other are, to them, less noble than yours are to you.
4. Expand your sense of what's possible.
5. Don't trouble yourself with matters you truly cannot change.
6. Don't ask more of others than you can deliver yourself.
7. Tolerate ambiguity.
8. Laugh at yourself frequently.
9. Concern yourself with what is right rather than who is right.
10. Try not to forget that, no matter how certain, you might be wrong.
11. Give up blood sports.
12. Remember that your life belongs to other as well. Don't risk it frivolously.
13. Never lie to anyone for any reason. (Lies of omission are sometimes exempt).
14. Learn the needs of those around you and respect them.
15. Avoid the pursuit of happiness. Seek to define your mission and pursue that.
16. Reduce your use of the first personal pronoun.
17. Praise at least as often you disparage.
18. Admit your errors freely and quickly.
19. Become less suspicious of joy.
20. Understand humility.
21. Remember that love forgives everything.
22. Foster dignity.
23. Live memorably.
24. Love yourself.
25. Endure.
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