25 Life Lessons They Didn’t Teach Me In School

Posted by Dan on September 09, 2009 in The Voyage

A quarter century down and I know I’ve only scraped the surface. Here is what I think are the most important things I’ve learned so far, maybe I’ll change my mind in time but for now I think it’s working ok for me.

  1. There are exceptions for every rule or “There are no Absolutes”. There is no black and white, only shades of grey.
  2. Your teachers are not infallible.
  3. Failure does not make you a failure.
  4. You are the master of yourself.
  5. You don’t have to follow all the rules.
  6. You can make your own rules.
  7. There is no substitute for experience.
  8. Your thoughts and experiences make you who you are.
  9. The Jones’ have got it all wrong.
  10. 95% of your fears will never be realized.
  11. You will prevail over the other 5%.
  12. Know your beliefs and question them at every opportunity.
  13. People will impose their own beliefs on you until they realize the futility of it.
  14. Many will never realize.
  15. Your happiness will offend some and inspire others.
  16. You are sovereign, your place of birth does not mean you are required to be proud of your country, its people, history or of its ideals.
  17. Everything is connected.
  18. Debt will suck the life out of you.
  19. Happiness is only real when shared
  20. Respect should not have to be earned, but it may be lost.
  21. Never give up learning.
  22. Persistence is a virtue but so is knowing when to give up.
  23. Everything is transient, so suck the juice out of every experience.
  24. Happiness does not happen, it is something you do.
  25. “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” Buddha

What have you learned?

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