Here's a few things that I have learned over the last 26 years. Just a thought.
1. Find your passion, stick to it.
Already I've seen a lot of my friends doing jobs that they hate. Find your passion, stick with it. Don't worry about money, worry about people. Money is soooooooo temporary.
2. Grow up.
Easily the biggest thing. Grow up. I remember sitting by a fire in California on my SR. trip after high school. My youth leader said "Grow up, most people don't learn to." I never believed it. As I'm entering my 26th year, all I can say is, grow up. Clearly I need to too.
3. Get married.
I have a lot of friends on both sides. Married and non-married. I'm sure both work out great depending on the person, but I'll stick to the 'get married' side. I value marriage and suggest that others do to. You really can't understand it until you do it.
4. You're selfish.
Always have been. Probably always will be. Its just the world we grow up in. I'm a selfish jerk, and so are you. Lets take small steps to change that, daily.
5. Avoid debt.
As soon as you jump into debt, your options are limited. If you want a new car, great! You are probably at a point where you can afford monthly payments. But is it really worth it? Every month you have to pay $400 just to drive to work and then when something goes wrong, which it will, you pay another $800-1,000 to fix it. What's wrong with a cheaper car that will just 'get you there'?
6. Drop the drama, seriously.
I can't even believe how much drama there still is! "He said, she said" nonsense. Look, if someone is REALLY talking behind your back, just ask! We aren't in high school anymore, popularity isn't a problem. Don't let it be.
7. Find Jesus Christ.
I would have made it #1, but #7 is even better, as its the number of perfection! I constantly ask myself, 'how do people make it through life without Jesus?' If you haven't yet, consider jumping into a church or bible study. I've got a few in mind if you need a recommendation.
8. Pour into the next generation.
On that note, volunteer, or something. Do something to the teens of today to help set them in the 'right path.' Remember being 12 years old and looking up to someone a little bit older thinking 'one day, I'll be just like them...' Now is your chance, and that window is small. Take a night of the week and hang out with some teens.
9. Prioritize.
God. Family. Friends. Its basic and we have all heard it before. Now is the time to take action with this. Where your time and money go, is where your heart is.
10. Make a memory.
Not like 'I'll get drunk and go to Red Rocks' kind of memory, that was for college. Instead, go do something. In other words: turn off Netflix.
11. Saving is cool.
Have a savings account. It doesn't have to be big, but if something goes wrong, lets make sure we can handle it.
12. Move on!
I just heard this story from someone in my church about guy named Jed. In high school He played on the basketball team every year, but never put up big numbers. During his senior year someone from the rival team completely stuffed his shot and yelled "I'll always take you down!" 15 years later, Jed was training for an up coming community adult league. His goal was to shut down that player from 15 years ago. When the game came where his team was to face his rival, his rival didn't show up. He felt like he had wasted the last 15 years training for that one game only to have it fall through. Jed left the gym disappointed. Drop it. It was a high school competition.
13. Health Matters.
What you put in your body seriously effects how you feel, look, act, and live. Most of you reading this are much better at this than I am. I went through a 'weight loss journey' for about 8 months and lost something like 50 pounds. Keeping it off is even harder, but absolutely worth it.
14. Know Your Identity.
We generally think something like "Middle school is when I really had an identity crisis..." That doesn't change. In today's world, we have to continue to find our identity. Every season of life, our identity has the opportunity to change, if you let it. Becoming a husband, becoming a father, no longer defined by our 'sport', being a good employee, being a good employer... We could go on for days.
15. Travel.
If you haven't yet, do it. Its amazing to talk to people who have lived in the same place their whole lives. Go somewhere, meet people, hear how they view the world. I guarantee it will change the way you view the world. I don't just mean take a trip to vegas. Go spend a couple months in another part of the world. Do it now, or you never will.
16. Listen.
On that note. Learn how to listen, don't just wait for your turn to talk. This is something our entire society is missing. Listen to others. Other people matter.
17. Take interest in others.
To take it a step further, take interest in other people. Their lives, hobbies, pains, joys, family, fun, friends... You'll make more friends in 2 months if you take an interest in other, than you ever could in 2 years!
18. Be willing to be a Jerk.
I mean, you don't have to be mean, or rude even, but be willing to come off as a jerk. When you hear that someone is talking badly about you, just confront them. My pastor says the easiest way to do this is start the conversation with; "Help me to understand...." Its a hard 10 second, but its worth it. Confront someone and say; "Help me understand something, I heard you said some mean things about me, is that true? Can I do anything to clear this up?"
19. Communicate.
Communication is quickly becoming a lost art. I like texting more than the next guy, but make sure you know what you are saying over text. Choose words wisely. What you say, and how you say is, are very important.
20. Love.
Everyone. Everything. Every moment of life. Live it. Love it. Life is beautiful if you let it be. Love the people around you. Stop constantly looking for something better.
21. Failing to plan, is planning to fail.
I'm in youth ministry, I live in the "fly by the seat of my pants" daily. Come to find out, if you don't plan things out, you'll fail. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
22. Happiness is up to you.
No one else is in charge of your happiness. Not your mom, grandma, daughter, husband, wife, friends etc. Your happiness comes from you. Choose Joy.
23. Envy is a waste of time.
You already have all you need. Don't worry about getting things. Be happy with what you've got! The rest of the world would be more than jealous of what you have, probably even kill for it.
24. Small steps.
When in doubt, take small steps. Keep moving forward. It's amazing how small steps today can bring huge results tomorrow.
25. Laugh.
Laugh at yourself, at TV shows, with your friends, during dinner, during movies, while driving, while in the bathroom, while at work. Laugh. Don't take life so seriously you can't laugh!
26. Forgive.
Life is too short to hold grudges and hate. Forgive the people that were mean to you, or did something to you. Forgive them and move on.
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