I originally wrote these tips for my son, part fatherly advice, part hard-earned wisdom from a lifetime of getting things right, getting things wrong, and learning the difference.
But the more I looked at the list, the more I realized none of it is just for him. These are reminders that apply to just about anyone who wants to take better care of themselves, get more focused, work toward something meaningful, and become a better human along the way.
So, for my son, and for anyone else who could use them, here are my tips for getting your shit together.
Clean Up After Yourself
My dad used to say, “It’s a poor bird that shits in its own nest.” The opposite is also true: The strongest bird keeps its nest tidy. Start by picking up your own clothes, making your own bed, and throwing out the garbage you make. It’s disrespectful to expect others to do that for you.
Have Two Plans
Before setting out on a great journey, it helps to know where you want to go. That’s Plan #1: The Big Plan. Answer: Where do you want to be a few years from now? Plan #2 is The Daily Plan. Start your day by listing a few things you need to get done to keep moving forward, inch by inch. Don’t list 100 things. It’s better to be a sharp-shooter getting a few important things done than shooting with a shotgun and getting 100 unimportant things done.
Ask For Help to Get What You Need
Nobody is successful on their own. NOBODY. Figure out what you want and need and then enlist those who can help you get it. When in doubt, ask your parents.
Be Good to Yourself
You are a soul that lives in a body. Many faith traditions regard the body as a “temple.” Treat it as such. Stop vaping. Stop eating shit food. Drink less alcohol. Start paying attention to what you put into your body. Workout faithfully. Self-respect is a function of treating yourself like a good friend.
FOCUS
Pay close attention to what you pay close attention to. What are you putting in your head? You don’t need an ear bud perpetually distracting you with music. Big companies spend a lot of time devising ways to seize your attention with an ongoing diet of mental junk food. Don’t let your mind be controlled by Big Tech. Scroll less. Live off the grid at least once daily.
Compete Against Yourself
Don’t compare your insides to someone else’s outsides. There will always be people who have more than you, and a lot more who have less. Compete against yourself, not them. Keep your own sidewalk clean. Aim to do better today than you did yesterday, and better tomorrow than you did today.
Work Your Ass Off
It doesn’t matter how smart a person is. It doesn’t matter how rich your family is. It doesn’t matter how articulate, good looking, or naturally talented you are. What matters is how hard you work to get what you want. You can achieve nearly anything if you’re willing to bust your ass to get it.
Be a Good Human
Life is a never-ending series of growing temptations, none of which you have to give in to. Your strength will grow in relation to how much you ignore what tempts you, which neutralizes their power. Stay good. Stay wholesome. Stay respectful. Do right by others. Stand up for people who are being bullied. Do all of this without taking shit from anyone.
Stay Spiritually Connected
You are part of the universe, and the universe is part of you. Whatever this God thing is – and NOBODY knows what it is – it loves you and wants you to be happy. Period. It wants the same thing for every other human. You’ll be most content to the extent that you stay continuously connected to it. These are the three simple prayers that matter most:
- “Please help me.”
- “Please let me know what you want me to do.”
- “Please provide me with the strength I need to do what you want me to do.” And remember to say “Thank you, God.”
Keep Trudging
Life’s good days will be offset by life’s not-so-good days, almost in equal measure. The motto of the Navy SEALs is: The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday. Meaning, meet this day with all you have, even if it’s hard. Then get up tomorrow and meet the new day with all you have, even if it’s harder than yesterday. You will have moments on magnificent peaks. Soak up those special moments when they come your way. Then get back on the rocky, muddy, sometimes god-awful road, and keep trudging to the next magnificent peak.
NOTE: None of this was created with AI. Hard earned wisdom and experience will always be more valuable than fake-ass robots! 😉
