LIFE IS NOT FAIR: Some people look better than you. Some people make more money than you. Some people live in bigger houses than you. Some people go to better schools than you. Some people drive better cars than you. Some people have bigger bank accounts than you. I think you get the idea. Life is NOT fair. Deal with it.
PEOPLE: People are like books. Everyone has their own story to tell. Turn the pages and read the chapters. You never know who you are talking to. Like the old saying, "Don't judge a book by it's cover."
WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF YOU: I’m going to make a bold statement here...people don’t sit around and think about you. That’s right, they don’t think about you. They don’t think about you because they are too busy thinking about themselves! They are also too busy talking to themselves. This is normal. Yes, everyone talks to themselves all day long. It’s true. Don't tell me you don't talk to yourself because you do.
THE WORLD: If you haven’t already done so, you need to change the way you see the world. Everyone is the same. Yes, everyone is the same. Don’t let language, race, religion, or culture get in the way. Everyone is the same. Everyone just wants to be happy (I hope!). I have travelled all over the world (20 countries) and it never ceases to amaze me how similar we all are. We all share the same planet therefore we should all be friends. Think about it.
WHAT YOU SAY: Say what you mean, mean what you say. Choose your words carefully. Talk clearly. Let people understand you. Do not offer unnecessary details that are not relevant to your conversation. People don’t care that you had a problem getting out of bed or your neighbor is a biologist. Offer relevant information for the given conversation. Of course, this information depends on who you are talking to and what the context is.
PEOPLE DON'T LISTEN (myself included!): Where do I begin with this one? I have been working in the same industry for the past 13 years and I have enough stories to fill up the Internet. I have probably talked to at least 15,000 to 20,000 people over the past 13 years just at work! Time and time again I am reminded that people don’t listen. You’ve got to listen to people! Listen to what they say and respond. Pay attention. Ask questions about what you are hearing and then listen to the answer! I'll be honest, I need to be a better listener.
JUDGMENT: Don’t go around judging people. It’s pathetic. Why don’t you just let them live their lives and you can worry about your own situation? You don’t know all of the facts and circumstances of that person’s life or what that person has gone through. They are not you. They don’t want to be you. They want to live their lives. I would hate someone to judge me without knowing the facts and circumstances.
DEATH: One day you are going to die. Yes, you will have your own personal dance with the Grim Reaper. This is guaranteed. Your house, car, friends, job are not going to go save you or go with you. You will meet your Maker. This is no joke. THIS IS REAL. One day people will gather at your funeral and, if you are lucky, cry their eyes out. How do you want to be remembered? They will not remember your car, job, house, etc. They will remember only YOU. They will remember your personality, your laugh, your kindness, how you made them feel, how you impacted their life, etc. Do it now. Become the person you know deep in your heart you should be.
