32 things I’ve learned in 32 years

Today is my birthday, and I’m celebrating with a list of 32 things I’ve learned as in many years.

This isn’t a definitive list of the most important things I’ve learned, just what came to mind.

1. You can only have as many true friends as you have fingers.
2. “Good” coffee is a balance of quality and convince.
3. Semper ubi sub ubi (Always where under where — it’s a Latin joke, but also good advice when you read it aloud).
4. Η ΤΑΝ Η ΕΠΙ ΤΑΣ (Come back with your shield, or on it)
5. There’s always something different, you just have to look for it.
6. Discipline is a vehicle for joy.
7. Make time to spend with people you care about.
8. Tweak your system, but don’t have a system that’s just tweaking.
9. There’s good food in every town, you just have to look for it and enter with no expectations and an empty stomach.
10. It’s a lot of work to have long hair.
11. Don’t over subscribe to RSS feeds or over follow on Twitter
12. If you think you have something funny or edgy to say, text it to your group of friends first.
13. You slowly pick up traits of the 5 people you spend the most time with or talk to.
14. You can only physically be in one place at any moment — don’t try to be at both.
15. Turn read receipts on for Messages.
16. It’s easier to find a job when you have a job.
17. If you have an idea, write it down.
18. Our minds aren’t filing cabinets for information and to-dos, have a system.
19. Making broth is one of the most fulfilling things you can cook.
20. When you look at WebMD, remember that they need to say “see your doctor” for liability reasons, you might not need to.
21. Seeing your favorite band multiple times on the same tour is incredibly rewarding.
22. When two cars hit each other, it’s a crash, not an accident: You don’t know the intent of the motorists.
23. Movie theaters are really the best way to see a movie.
24. Study what interests you, not what you think will get you money.
25. Don’t drive too fast.
26. Turn off most of the notifications on your phone and computer.
27. If you do anything with social media for work and post personally as well, get two phones.
28. Some folks just can’t grow a beard (myself included).
29. File organization is important on computers.
30. Back your files up, and back up the backups.
31. If you see something that catches your eye, take a picture, it might never occur again.
32. Don’t get mad at other people, there’s no way you have any idea what they are going through.

One more: The best way to do something is often just to do it.

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