Life.

The following is a condensed list I found online of helpful knowledge about life. I have added my own two cents to the ones I liked. Erased the ones I either knew, or disagreed with. And left the ones I believe need no explanation.

You can’t change other people, and it’s rude to try.

Simply put. Some people just figure they are the what a good person looks like. Eat this way. Look this way. Cheer for this team, and if you don’t you’re an outcast. Not only do they try to change you, they throw you to the wolves if you refuse to conform.

Everyone likes somebody who gets to the point quickly.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve spoken with people and they are telling me a story in which I get lost. I don’t think I’m a terrible person, sure I am bad, but not terrible. Anyways, they are in the middle of telling a story and I am gone because the details they share in the beginning are boring. I wouldn’t know if they were pointless in relation to the story because I add in a hmm, or cool, or a ‘haha’ when they FINALLY finish.

Bad moods will come and go your whole life, and trying to force them away makes them run deeper and last longer.

Oddly enough, I know this is true. I get into bad moods less than the next guy, but when I do, if I don’t just come to grips with it, and accept it for what it is, and avoid letting it get the best of me, it lasts forever. You have to deal with it, get over it, throw a baseball at a wall, go for a long quiet walk, have a smoke. Whatever it is you do to calm down and get over it. Do it right away before you’re consistently grumpy.

Yelling always makes things worse.

Honestly, I know nothing about this, I only yell at the television set. But judging on passerby experiences, it makes you sound like a jerk. You could yell compliments at someone and sound like a jerk. So don’t yell, unless the person is deaf, or across the street. (this is the one I am most likely going to go against my word and break, I probably yell more than I think)

Whenever you’re worried about what others will think of you, you’re really just worried about what you’ll think of you.

I am the most self conscious guy I know. I don’t know many guys. And all of them act macho and cool and manly. So being self conscious is like a secret I hold from them. So I know that when I get worried about other peoples opinions about the stupid little things I do, or looks I try out, it all pretty much comes down to me thinking that I will look like a fool. So this one is definitely true.

Every problem you have is your responsibility, regardless of who caused it.

I don’t like this one, because the thought of responsibility terrifies me. Irrationally, probably, but its still a fear. Being responsible is something I’ve always figured I am. I’m sure people look at me and think I’m responsible, too. But actually being responsible, like admitting you’re wrong, and making adult decisions and stuff is something I will not be a fan of. Absolutely I believe I will do the right thing, but in no way am I excited to do so.

Managing one’s wants is the most powerful skill a person can learn.

I absolutely agree with this. I mean, how hard is it for me to figure out what I want? So hard. I agree completely that it is a skill and it is learned. And it is something I have been working on getting better at for years. And I still don’t know, but I have ideas.

Nobody has it all figured out.

I don’t know if this is true. I don’t have it all figured out. Probably not even half. If there is someone out there who has it all figured out, I have yet to meet them, or hear about them. That doesn’t seem like a fun way to deal with this one. If you don’t have it all figured out, who cares. If you have something figured out, you’ve got a start. If you meet someone who thinks they have it all figured out, run away because they are probably a liar.

Every passing face on the street represents a story every bit as compelling and complicated as yours.

This one is just an eery fact that boggles the mind. Mine, at least. I guess it humbles you and puts things in perspective as well.

Anger reveals weakness of character, violence even more so.

Those who complain the most, accomplish the least.

What do you take from this, besides the obvious? I take advice... Stop complaining. Seriously, where is it going to get me? Nowhere.

Putting something off makes it instantly harder and scarier.

Procrastination used to be my best friend. i guess it is in some ways still, but not as much. It is in the fact I have written about 15 songs and bought a laptop over a year and a half ago specifically to record said music... only like 4 songs have been recorded. It gets harder to bring yourself to do something the longer you go on not doing it.

Credit card debt devours souls.

I know first hand that this is true. I have seen it torture people. So if you have a credit card... be careful. Only use it for what you need. And never ever ever, spend what you cannot pay off.

Most of what we see is only what we think about what we see.

Observing only gets you so far. The rest is fill-in-the-blank. Only filling in the blank with feelings or assumptions or lies.

The most common addiction in the world is the draw of comfort. It wrecks dreams and breaks people.

Number 30 could be the most frightening. I mean, how many times do you see someone refuse to use their talents because it will cost more time and effort than just conforming to a certain job or lifestyle. I’m guilty of it, too. I’ve never pursued my dream of being a musician because I am afraid of being uncomfortable. So that dream was wrecked. I refuse to let it break me though, so that part is untrue. But in the future I hope to not let the lure of comfort keep me from making the right decision.

If what you’re doing feels perfectly safe, there is probably a better course of action.

Isn’t this almost the same as the comfort one? If you’re comfortable

Blame is the favorite pastime of those who dislike responsibility.

I dislike responsibility but I will do my best to not blame anyone for something that is entirely my fault.

Proof is nothing but a collection of opinions that match your own.

Well put.

Self-examination is the only path out of misery.

Believe me, I use this one a lot.

If you aren’t happy single, you won’t be happy in a relationship.

Even if it costs no money, nothing is free if it takes time.

Everyone thinks they’re an above average driver.

By default, people think far too much.

There is nothing worse than having no friends.

Where would I be without mine? 6 feet under, maybe. That should say how important all relationships are.

Try as we might to be otherwise, we are all hypocrites.

Words are immensely powerful. One cruel remark can wound someone for life.

If I ever said anything stupid, or hurtful to you, I am truly sorry.

Problems, when they arise, are rarely as painful as the experience of fearing them.

Nothing — ever — happens exactly like you pictured it.

If that happened, I’d be playing Wembley Stadium this weekend. Not with a soccer ball, with a guitar and a band and a microphone.

A good nine out of ten bad things I’ve worried about never happened. A good nine out of ten bad things that did happen never occurred to me to worry about.

There is no point finishing a book you aren’t enjoying. Life is too short for that. Swallow your pride and put it down for good, unfinished.

The fewer possessions you have, the more they do for you.

Wishing things were different is a great way to torture yourself.

The ability to be happy is nothing other than the ability to come to terms with how things change

Happiness is a choice. Its cliche, yes, but true. I need to make this my choice more often. Instead of choosing to be bitter or wishing I could change things I need to choose happiness.

Killing time is an atrocity. It’s priceless, and it never grows back.

Too bad I’m an expert at killing time. I guess this one I harsh need to work on.

Hope this helped you. Inspired you. Changed you. Or at least made you think for ten seconds. If you didn’t read the whole thing, well I don’t blame you its 1,500 words. And if my opinions suck, let me know. I thrive on constructive feedback. Or let me know your favorites. I’m cool with that, too.