(Originally appeared in Mutant Renegade Zine #9, Fall 1998)
A friend of mine who I meet recently, gave me a card for my birthday before she left for her new job in California. Inside, among other things, she had this list which she picked up from a few years of introspective analysis. I think it's full of good points and I felt like sharing. So here you go, in no particular order...
- Don't sweat the small stuff.
- Make everything look easy - and if it's not easy, make it look easy anyway.
- NO whining - venting is acceptable.
- Everyone is addicted to perfection at some level - STOP IT it'll kill you.
- Balance is the key to life.
- You'll find your soul-mate(s). Just remember, your soul-mate will compliment you, your qualities, your life - NOT complete it.
- Develop your essence, it's your being, it's what makes you the person you are. The activities you do don't make the person you'd like to be.
- Remember the "little" people.
- Never compromise your integrity, just to keep up in the rat race.
- You can never kill the demons inside you - the demons make you the person you are. But come to grips with those demons - or else they'll make you insane.
- Teaming is everything - you can't do everything yourself.
- There is a difference between management and leadership.
- Life is more than work and play. It's about family and friends, dreams and goals.
- One night stands are good, sex without attachments are even better...but only when condoms are used.
- Drugs are BAD.
- Random acts of kindness are good. - Gifts for friends for no reason are good. - Gifts for strangers are even better.
- Food is yummy.
- Playing in the rain is fun, sexy and a great release.
- Always be open-minded.
- NEVER hate - it's very unbecoming.