Life Tips

For this blog I wanted to do something a little different, and offer up some tips that help me through life.

Some of them will be quite specific. Some of them will be vague. Some will be pertaining primarily to me, but you know, they may well help someone else in my absence...

I was going to call this Life Hacks but I hate that term with a passion.

So without further ado:

• Don't be an asshole. You know when you're being an asshole so don't pretend you don't.
• If you have curiosity about a subject, go look into it. It's easy and fun.
• Some lessons take more than one exposure to sink in. Give it time.
• You are worth more than you think you are, and you deserve happiness, no matter what you think.
• Seasonings are your friend. Find five or six that you like, then put that shit on everything.
• Learn how to take compliments. Yes it is awkward, but the person giving it probably means it. Perhaps reply with a compliment of your own? Or simple thanks! No need to not be humble.
• Everything in moderation - even moderation. Let go of the reins once in a while.
• You are not contractually obligated to keep anyone in your life. Aside from your spouse, and even that can be anulled.
• Recognise and minimise your flaws. Likewise, recognise and hone your talents. They don't define you, but they are important.
• Always   I   readlovebetweenyouthe alllines.
• You can't prevent your very first thought in any given situation. You CAN reason it out, challenge it, correct it, before you act on it - and that's the real measure of morality.
• There's no shame in liking something popular. There's no shame in disliking something popular.
• Don't hate on yourself for not getting literally everything done that you think you should have. You got up, and you tried. That's a victory.
• Trust your instincts - but logic-sweep them too. Thinking before acting is what separates us from cavemen.
• Think about all the things you enjoy in your life. Picture your life without them, one at a time. When you find the one that makes you angry to imagine missing - throw yourself into it without fear.
• Watch, read or listen to something once a week that you haven't heard of before. Expand those horizons.
• Some people will raise you up whenever you feel low. Some people will tell you the truth when a lie would hurt less. Keep both close to you.
• Other people are going to think badly of you if they want to, regardless of what you do. The people that matter don't mind - the people that mind don't matter.
• Learn yourself. Know yourself. Understand the battles you can fight and win, and avoid those you can't.
• Do what you can with what you have.
• See the doctor. If the idea of seeing your doctor makes you uncomfortable, get a new doctor.
• Love isn't the feeling of weird fear-excitement you get when you look at someone. Love is the feeling of happiness you feel whenever you think of them.
• Always leave a decent layover between transport changes. Use that time to eat something, or just take a breath of non-train air.

I hope these tips help you in some tiny way, at least once, in the next month.

If not, well, hell, I tried.

Lessons Learned, Pages Turned

Herein is the latest installation of my series about learning lessons from various media. If you're playing the home game, drink if you agree. This is a sequel to my previous posts on this topic - Part 1 and Part 2.

Wreck-It Ralph taught me that I need to stay in my lane. Don't try and be better or anything other than what you are - the moment you try, you've fucked it. ...that's a double-edged sword.

Say Anything taught me that music can convey just about anything better than regular old words can. Especially when delivered personally. Via nineties-era boom-box.

Dog Day Afternoon taught me that love can drive people to extraordinary lengths. And body counts.

Gremlins taught me that stairlifts are very, very dangerous.

Civilization V taught me that as long as you are charismatic enough, anyone will help you, unless you CURSE YOU GHANDIIIIIIII

Die Hard taught me a great way to deal with jet alg and various other minor discomforts and maladies. Seriously, try the grabbing-the-floor thing. It genuinely works.

Inception taught me that I should ignore all of those ridiculous motivational posters telling me to Follow Your Dreams.

Pokemon: The First Movie taught me that all it takes for people to realise that conflict is wrong is to notice the effect it has on two people.

Gone In Sixty Seconds taught me that there is literally no car on earth sexier than a 1967 Mustang with a V8 engine.

The Great Dictator taught me that it's not the people that talk a lot that really deserve listening to - it's the ones that talk so rarely that you know they have something to say.

The Star Wars Prequels taught me that you should just watch the original trilogy. Also that it's far more okay to murder Sand People babies than non-Sand People kids.

Mad Max: Fury Road taught me who killed the world. It also taught me that being witnessed can be very important.

Terminator 2 taught me that even carrying a minigun won't make a white man seem as threatening as an unarmed black man to the authorities.

Pixels taught me to never trust Adam Sandler, and also to just watch Wreck-It Ralph again.

Yet again...more will follow in the future.