One of my friends shared this article on Facebook - originally posted on inoveryourhead.net that I find relatable.
I guess being 21 is not too late for these pearls of wisdom. So the title I have for myself and anybody younger would be "20 Things You Should Know at 20", and take it as you 'should have known' if you're older! The author probably did not give much thought on some points by the way, simply adding things to make it 20. Just so for a better title. "20...20"
Not everything in the list is relevant to everyone, but as a 20's guy, I sure know some things from the list that I want to keep in mind from now on. And to make a point to myself, here it is:
3) Read as much as you can.
- I can't agree more on this. Movies present imagination and ideas through visual images & sound, what you see is what you get. A good book provides you words that you built upon your infinite possibility of thought. Every thought personalized, everything you create in your mind for you only. Almost no one imagines 'two purple cows with purple spots' exactly the same. Perhaps that's what makes reading so magical. You, and your own world. I used to read, and I will read again. In fact, I just picked up an old book today and finished 3 chapters! It's hard to explain the feeling and experience you'll get from a good book, but I assure you, you'll not be wasting your time.
4) Connect with everyone, all the time.
- Well yes I don't have be a social-freak and be talking to everyone at any time, but I want to be able to talk to anyone I want to, all the time. Yes, I'm going to learn to find something I like in each person, and talk to it.
5) Don't waste time being shy.
- Being afraid of social judgement is totally natural, and totally bad, most of the time. Added to the fact that I now realized it's also a waste of time. Rather be reading books!
6) If you feel weird about something during a relationship, that's usually what you end up breaking up over.
- Never be too logic/left-brain dependent when dealing with matters of the heart. It's a matter of the HEART. Your very rational, systemic, forward-thinking approach should be kept as a guideline, not a director, and I want to remember this.
13) Learn to program.
- Watch Mark Zuckerberg, will.i.am, Bill Gates, the creator of Twitter etc. talk about computer language in the short video below. It started with phones. Now watches, TV's, refrigerators, and even tables! are getting 'smart'. So when is it time for us to learn the language of the things around us?
I found 2 very good places to start: Here, and here. :)
15) Learn to cook.
- Being able to cook at least one of my favorite dish would be a pleasure. :)
16) Sleep well.
- Of late, I've been going to bed at, the earliest - 12 am. Meddle with my phone for at least another hour, on average - 1.5 hour, before switching off the lights. Add another 30 minutes more to sleep. I guess that's common especially with people of my age. But this is bad. And bad things must come to an end!
20) Don't try to "fix" anyone.
- Yes. Stop fighting to be right. And there will be less over-thinking, depression, insomnia.