A Few Things I Needed To Know About Life That I Actually Learned After Kindergarten
In his 1988 best-seller, author Robert Fulghum cleverly and persuasively suggested that "everything [he] ever really needed to know about life [he] learned in kindergarten." http://tinyurl.com/6y6cd5 With all due respect to Mr. Fulghum, however, there actually are a few things I learned after kindergarten that I believe are indispensible to living a healthy and happy life - some of which I thought I would share over the next several days.
1. Go to bed before midnight.
Why I think you should consider it:
a. It ensures that you get a good night's rest and that you wake up refreshed and ready to tackle a new day.
b. Trust me, the old adage is true: "Nothing good happens after midnight." Don't believe me? Take a minute and pull up "yesterday's" arrest records in your community on the Internet and I'm certain you'll discover that a disproportionate number of them (most) occurred after midnight - and don't be naive enough to think "that could never happen to me" - it can.
c. 98% of the people on the planet are doing it. They can't all be wrong!
2. Turn off your cell phone before you hit the sack.
Why I think you should consider it:
a. It will help to ensure that you get a good night's rest.
b. Take it from someone who, together with the rest of his generation, lived 30 years without the privilege of having a cell phone: Notwithstanding what those who are intent on creating and drawing you into the drama that is their daily lives may think, whatever "it" is can certainly wait until morning. Moreover, even in the rare instance of an "actual emergency," chances are you'll be much better equipped to deal with it if you've had a good night's sleep.
c. 98% of the people on the planet are doing it. They can't all be wrong!
3. Wake up with a grateful heart and a grateful thought.
Why I think you should consider it:
a. All of us can find something or someone we are grateful for. Indeed, if we really applied ourselves, we likely could come up with a pretty impressive list of those people and things. Pick one of them and make it your first thought of the day. Verbalize it to yourself: "Today, I am grateful for ___________." And then, commit to living that day with a grateful heart.
b. If you draw a blank or are intent on believing that your life is just a mess, then be grateful for what is the greatest gift of all: the gift of a new day - and the opportunity it affords to take at least the smallest of steps toward "cleaning up" that mess, whatever that "clean-up" may require.
c. Okay, so maybe 98% of the people on the planet aren't doing it! But that doesn't mean they shouldn't be.
Still skeptical? Try it for 30 days and if it doesn't meaningfully improve your energy, your attitude and your life, let me know.
