Little Instructions

Back in the day, when I was a wee lad, I used those little tear-away-by-the-day calendars. I was also quite a pack-rat. Which is why I recently found two consecutive years of these tear-away days in my closet.

One such year was a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Calendar year.... I'm glad I saved those. The following year I was given a Life's Little Instruction Calendar (Volume XI in case you're wondering), and I'm even more pleased that I saved these. Here are gems of instructions. Take 'em or leave 'em.

On Relationships
Really go out of your way to see to it that anyone invited to your home has a wonderful time --- Ask friends who they'd choose to play themselves if a movie were made of their life --- Write a personal note in every book you give --- Remember, even the most sincere apology can't erase harsh words said in haste or anger --- Take a walk in the woods with someone you love when it's snowing --- Unless you're at the beach, remove your sunglasses when talking to someone --- When conversing with others, remember you expose not just what you know, but who you are --- Contentment is found in relationships, not in places or accomplishments

On Yourself
Write twenty poems and have them bound in leather --- Buy an expensive bottle of wine and compare it with a cheap one; you might be surprised by which you like best --- Never underestimate your abilities. You are capable of things undreamed of --- What qualities do you most like in your friends? Acquire them. Practice them. Make them your own. --- Keep your mind curious, your heart pure, and your enthusiasm twelve inches taller than you are --- Your potential is determined by your dreams; your value is determined by your actions --- Wave at couples sitting on front porches --- Your mind is the muscle that most needs exercising --- Carry authority and confidence in your posture and voice --- Maintain a touch of mystery

On Growing Old
On your birthday, try something you'd do if your age were your shoe size --- Compliment all women with beautiful gray hair --- Don't die muttering "if only..." --- Leave precious memories alone and undisturbed; trying to relive them often results in disappointment --- Go back to the house where you grew up and ask the owner if you could just look around.

On Random Betterness
Support your local diner --- Winning is simple, take just one more step when all the others have quit --- Don't waste time trying to reason with a dog --- Don't hurry past beauty --- Be different. Be fair. Be first --- Carry authority and confidence in your posture and voice --- Don't attend every argument you're invited to --- Life is hard; don't get soft --- Be willing to attend to the small details that make the difference between "done" and "well done" --- To discover good, reliable people, undertake a difficult task with a group --- Don't weaken the power of future compliments by telling someone (especially children) he or she is doing a good job when they're not --- Be the reason someone smiles today

Currently Carrying the Most Meaning for Shawn (yes I enjoy referring to myself in the third person)
Having a good idea is like holding a quart of ice cream on a hot summer day; you've got to do something with it right away or all is lost --- The happiest you'll ever be is when you're working hard for something you really care about --- For somethings to make sense, you have to live a long time --- Learn to accept praise without suggesting you don't deserve it