Advice to a Young Person (essay)

Advice to a young person

I can’t really tell you what to DO, however I can tell you some things you shouldn’t:

• Don’t think you have to decide your entire future before you’re 20, or even 30.


• Don’t be afraid to take chances (but don’t be an idiot about it!).


• Don’t fail to set goals for yourself, but don’t forget that your reach actually should exceed your grasp.


• Don’t be afraid of failure.


• Don’t surrender to fear.


• Don’t think that merely because someone knows something you don’t that they are necessarily smarter than you.


• Don’t think that merely because someone IS smarter than you that they are necessarily better than you or happier than you.


• Don't even think that someone who appears more “moral” than you is better than you; many well-known moral people really aren’t.


• Don't confuse a rigid adherence to religion for morality.


• Don’t be cynical about love, friendship, or ideals.


• Don’t think “Karma will get them!” when someone has done you wrong; it may very well be that Karma has actually just gotten you.


• Don’t make fun of other people’s religion or spirituality.


• Don’t hate.


• Don’t put yourself down all the time.


• Don’t swear at other people so often; they have feelings too.


• Don't always blurt out the first thing that comes to your mind.


• Don’t think money will make you happy.


• Don’t think when you reach the age of 40 “This is it, this is what I am” because age is relative; you may live until 80+ so at 40 your life may be half over, but there is still another half yet to be lived.


• Don't believe everything you're told.


• Don't ever quit learning.


• Don’t fail to enjoy life while you’re living it.