I was reading a list by Eric Zorn titled “50 things I’ve learned in 50 years” and I was inspired to write my own list as a comparison between two different generations. Also, just to do a self-check and see if I have learned anything valuable in the past 24 years.

The older you get, the more you reflect, adjust, and change your ways. This list includes some of my own revelations as well as some principals and morals that I’ve acquired that have made my life better.

1. All of the hot girls from high school are no longer hot, and all of the ones in high school now are illegal.
2. To stay motivated, it’s best to set goals and pursue them like an animal.
3. Having money is nice, having close friends is better.
4. Now that the internet is mainstream, remember, that means 85% idiots.
5. Be noble, trustworthy, and follow through ’til the end.
6. Video games are a waste of time.
7. Physical attraction is not nearly as important as how you get along with someone. Good looks fade, good people don’t.
8. Removing the price from a wine bottle works in mysterious ways. If it was expensive, you don’t want people to know how much you paid. But, if it was cheap, it can make it seem more expensive.
9. Ignorance is bliss, but ignorance of culture is just plain ignorant.
10. Never underestimate a balanced diet and exercise. Eat right and exercise regularly and you’ll feel like a million bucks.
11. You should know within the first five minutes of meeting a woman if there is a connection, if not, take it for what it is and move on to the next.
12. Eating McDonald’s is like cheating on your girlfriend. You’re usually drunk, it feels great while you’re doing it, but you regret it almost instantly.
13. You can change your morals and principles, but no matter how hard you try, you can’t change who you are. Embrace it and use it to your advantage.
14. Never take your parents for granted. They are the closest tie you have and they could be gone at any moment.
15. Working at home is not as cool as it seems. There are too many distractions and a bed. It’s always better to work in an environment conducive to working (office, cafe, library, etc).
16. If you want to get ahead, you can’t drag people that are weighing you down with you. Distance yourself enough to keep on moving with your life.
17. Knowing how to cook is one of the most valuable skills you can have.
18. Create lists, stay organized, keep your place clean. A cluttered desk equals a cluttered mind. Keep to-do lists and free your mental RAM for the tasks you’re working on at the moment.
19. Cell phones are a gift and a curse. Now all of a sudden, if you have a cell phone, people act as if they have a right to your time. Forget that notion, don’t let it rule you.
20. As corny as it may sound, when you don’t know what to do in a crisis or hard time, you actually do know what to do. The answer is in your heart, you just need to open up and listen to it. The hard truth is often covered up and you subconsciously ignore it.
21. Love is hard, but good. No relationship can just magically work, you have to work at it. I quote Eric Zorn, “It’s 10 times easier to fall in love than to stay in love”.
22. Hate is an emotion that wastes time and energy. Focus on the good things, deal with the bad things as they come and then discard them.
23. You sleep in the bed you make. If you don’t like something about your situation, change it. Don’t sit in your own piss. It’s much easier than you think, and very satisfying.
24. Nobody is better or worse than you because of what they have. Look at people for who they are and stop there, you will make more friends this way.

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