What are your "Rules for Life?"

Ron Jeremy

 

In this vein, always do the thing that takes a little more effort because you’ll probably end up in a situation where fewer people are willing to do it, so you end up in the presence or wake of conscientious people.

I alway walk to the farthest urinal or stall.

 

At work parties, have a drinking limit and an exit strategy and stick to both

 

Win or learn.
If you’re not five minutes early, you’re late.
Never turn down a breath mint.

 

I got this from one of those spiritual/sentimental decorative signs that you hang in your house, but this was, seemingly, made for me. It quickly became a part of my everyday thought process, and really, it's the secret of my general contentment. I love it:

"Being grateful for what we have turns what we have into enough."

I got this one from "The Road Less Traveled," a book I read a long time ago about psychology, love, spirituality and self-care. I'm paraphrasing because I probably don't remember it exactly, but the gist has stuck with me to this day, and it is something I think, and think about, often. It fits my belief that most things cannot, and should not, be seen only as black-and-white, or viewed only in black-and-white. There are often -- usually, in fact -- shades of gray and measures of degrees:

"People usually are neither as great as they think, nor as bad as they fear."

And, from Star Trek: the famed Vulcan way. All I can say is, I just like it, and it's a good philosophy, I think. It comes to mind, sometimes, in my travels:

Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.

 

My dad and I went to Shea Stadium in 2004/2005 timeframe. We got in, got pictures in our seats only to get booted from them by the people who were supposed to be sitting there. Turns out the tickets were for the day before but we managed to get in. But it being Shea and the Mets, the usher pointed to the upper deck and said go find seats up there. It shouldn’t be a problem. It wasn’t and had our pick of seats. Had we noticed when we arrived in New York, I would have missed Mike Piazza coming off of injury to torch the Giants with two home runs. But then again, had we noticed, I would have missed one of my favorite baseball memories with my dad. So not a total failure.

 

Measure twice, cut once.

Don't fuck with happy.

Stay for the coffee and dessert.

"Don't be afraid to climb those golden stairs."
– Pitching coach Johnny Sain, on pushing for
better money, quoted by Jim Bouton in "Ball Four."

 

Be smart enough to know what you don’t know. Then learn what you don’t know.
Trust until you’re given a reason not to.
Your good friends are family.
Travel and see the world as much as you can.
Do your best to make yourself essential in your work.
Love and be kind to animals.
Happy wife, happy life.
Don’t pass up any chance to play golf. And have a fast pace of play.
Appreciate what you have.

 

You live and learn or you don't live long.

 

Which reminds me of another unofficial rule. Act like you belong somewhere and people often won’t question it.

 

Especially if you’re wearing a lanyard, a suit and have a scowl on your face. People don’t question anyone who looks busy or stressed out and is walking fast.

 

hardhat, clipboard and a high vis vest > a lanyard and a suit.

extra points if you have a walkie talkie that's squawking.