Adult Principles
Via Miguel de Icaza comes John Perry Barlow‘s great set of “Adult Priniciples” which JPB tweeted recently.
Adult Principle #1: Be patient. No matter what.
Adult Principle #2: Don’t badmouth: Assign responsibility, not blame. Say nothing of another you wouldn’t say to him.
Adult Principle #3: Never assume the motives of others are, to them, less noble than yours are to you.
Adult Principle #4 Expand your sense of the possible.
Adult Principle #5 Don’t trouble yourself with matters you truly cannot change.
Adult Principle #6 Don’t ask more of others than you can deliver yourself.
Adult Principle #7 Tolerate ambiguity.
Adult Principle #8 Laugh at yourself frequently.
Adult Principle #9 Concern yourself with what is right rather than who is right.
Adult Principle #10 Try not to forget that, no matter how certain, you might be wrong.
Adult Principle #11 Give up blood sports.
Adult Principle #12 Remember that your life belongs to others as well. Don’t risk it frivolously.
Adult Principles #13 Never lie to anyone for any reason. (Lies of omission are sometimes exempt.)
Adult Principle #14 Learn the needs of those around you and respect them.
Adult Principle #15 Avoid the pursuit of happiness. Seek to define your mission and pursue that.
Adult Principle #16 Reduce your use of the first personal pronoun.
Adult Principle #17 Praise at least as often as you disparage.
Adult Principle #18 Admit your errors freely and quickly.
Adult Principle #19 Become less suspicious of joy.
Adult Principle #20 Understand humility.
Adult Principle #21 Remember that love forgives everything.
Adult Principle #22. Foster dignity.
Adult Principle #23. Live memorably.
Adult Principle #24. Love yourself.
Adult Principle #25. Endure.
He also tweeted this wisdom:
If you want a new, improved mate, try treating the one you have better.