41. Life advice.

I'm sure everyone's read that one article about wearing sunscreen and various other inspirational texts written by people with varying amounts of life experience. I like those texts, especially the ones that show kindness, sympathy, understanding, and a hint of insanity make for happy elderly people free of bitterness. I'd like to be an old lady like that one day.

As an experiment, I am writing out a list of advice that comes to my head right now, at the weakling age of 24. I wish to write out a similar list ten, twenty, fifty years from now and see what's changed.

1. Don't worry so much.
2. Study less when it comes to things that don't matter. Focus your energies more.
3. Eat less chocolate.
4. Start using anti-aging creams when you're 18. When you're 24, it'll be too late.
5. Learn to say things like "No", "I don't agree", "That really hurt me", and "We need to talk about this".
6. Learn to say "I'm sorry". Say it whenever it's due, but mean it. Expect others to say it, too.
7. Take self-indulgient photos often and in great quantities. As Brad Pitt says, you will never be as lovely as you are right now - regardless of what you think.
8. Read more, spend less time on the Internet.
9. Take time to figure out what you want, and then go after it in an organized manner.
10. Say "yes" more often. Don't fear so much.
11. Think "What's the worst that could happen?", then laugh it off and do it. Laugh at your own embarrassments, and realize others probably aren't laughing half as much or remembering it half as long.
12. Don't flagellate people. Clearly voice your opinion, let them know exactly how and why their actions hurt you, and walk away or forgive them. No one deserves to be punished forever.
13. Tell that guy you think he's cute. If he's anything but flattered, he's a jerk.
14. Make lists of things that make you happy. Observe the random acts of kindness of strangers.
15. Take vitamins.
16. Always aim a bit higher than you think you can reach.
17. Read life advice by people like Mary Schmich and Kurt Vonnegut. Write them fanmail while they're still alive to read it.

Mary Schmich's article: http://www.davidpbrown.co.uk/poetry/mary-schmich.html

40. Holding hands.

"We're here to help each other get through this thing, whatever it is."
-Mark Vonnegut