The Secrets of Adulthood

One of my favorite things Gretchen did to prepare for her Happiness Project was to compile the Secrets of Adulthood - those lessons we learn as we grow up. Some silly, some serious, all true. So here are the secrets I've compiled - some I've totally stolen from Gretchen, some I've learned along the way.

• People don't notice your mistakes as much as you think
• It's OK to ask for help
• Most decisions don't require extensive research
• Do good, feel good
• It's important to be nice to everyone
• Turning the computer on and off a few times often fixes a glitch
• If you can't find something, clean up
• You can choose what you do, but you can't choose what you like to do
• Forget the past
• Talk to strangers
• Stay in touch
• You can be part of the problem, or part of the solution
• Spread joy
• You can't make everyone like you
• Don't expect it to last forever
• Everything ends and that's ok
• Stop buying useless crap
• Make mistakes
• Give thanks for the ordinary and the extraordinary
• Make footprints to let the world know you were here
• Be silly. Be light.
• What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while
• You don't have to be good at everything
• What's fun for other people might not be fun for you - and vice-versa
• Whenever possible, choose vegetables
• Your parents are almost always right
• Get some exercise every day
• Always say hello
• Change is good
• Choose the bigger life
• Things have a way of turning out for the best
• One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy; one of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself
• The days are long, but the years are short
• Outer order contributes to inner calm
• People succeed in groups
• You know as much as most people
• Your job does not, and should not, define you
• Shit happens