Life these days is complicated. It's messy. It's exhausting.

It feels like the world is broken in really unbelievable ways, and I'm not sure how we can fix it. At various times over the last several years, I have found myself meditating on what it means to be a good person in a society that seems utterly hellbent on breaking the good in people.

So, here are some of my personal guidelines. I share them in hopes that you may find useful.

1/ Invest time and energy into the things that you love, the people that you love, and activities that bring you joy. Embrace wonder and whimsy and weirdness. Seek out new adventures. Don't apologize for the things that you love.

2/ Divest yourself of the things that you don't love. If it becomes burdensome or has no measurable benefit, get rid of it. Time is one of your most precious commodities, so you should seek to protect it. If someone asks for your time, the answer should be either "Hell yes!" or "No." Don't apologize.

3/ Reduce your physical footprint. The line from Fight Club was, "The things you own end up owning you." This idea is similar, but it's less nihilistic. Possessions become burdens. More stuff to clean, more stuff to store, etc. Keep the good. Discard the bad. Do not apologize.

4/ Marcus Aurelius wrote to himself in his journal, "If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it." I think about that a lot.

5/ The Dalai Llama was once asked about his religion. His response? "My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness." I think about that a lot, too.

The goal here is not to grow into an old hermit with no possessions who only serves himself. I just recognize now (again?) that I need to prioritize my own mental and physical health more often.

Today, more than ever, core philosophies must prevail:

• Be excellent to each other.
• Radiate positivity.
• Love all, serve all.
• Be the change that you want to see in the world.
• Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
• Live long and prosper. 🖖
• Love one another.
• ... and may the Force be with you.

"All we are is dust in the wind, dude."

18 Oct 2022