44 insights I try to live by

Inspired by Kevin Kelly’s ‘103 bits of advice I wish I had known’, I decided to write my own list of things I’ve learned or am learning in the 44 years I’ve been alive so far. These are a collection of insights I try—with varying degrees of success—to hold onto as I go through life. This is by no means an exhaustive list; I hope I will be adding to this for many years to come. Nor is it in any particular order. It is simply an eclectic list of things I started to jot down when awake at 2am last night!

Time spent reading to and with your kids is some of the best time you will ever spend.
Leave your phone (and tablet, laptop) in a different room when you watch TV.
Let people know when you think about them—it barely takes a moment, but they’ll savour it all day.
Find ways to keep meeting new people.
Talk to strangers—you never know when you might meet a new friend.
Always be asking ‘Is this kind?’ before everything you say, do, and think.
Seek out other opinions and listen to understand not to undermine.
Changing your mind is evidence of growth not weakness.
Don’t leave your social life in the hands of your partner.
It isn’t necessary to check the news every day.
Never stop telling those that you love that you love them—unexpressed love is like buying someone a gift but never giving it to them.
Mistakes are fine, but try and make new mistakes not the same mistakes.
If you’re not enjoying a book, stop reading it.
Make sure the authors of the books you read—fiction and non-fiction—aren’t all western, white men.
Forgive quickly, freely, and unconditionally—the only one harmed by bitterness and resentment is you.
Be generous—stinginess isn’t a good look on anyone.
People are icebergs—don’t be fooled by the ten percent tip you get to see.
If you wouldn’t say it to their face, don’t Tweet it.
Aim to keep reducing the amount of time between bad behaviour and a sincere apology.
You don’t always need to be right.
Lifting others up will always lift you up too.
Sometimes the greatest way to show strength is to show weakness.
If you don’t know why you’re meeting, don’t meet.
Finish meetings early—everyone will thank you.
A life that is all work is no life at all.
Self-awareness is a super-power.
Wisdom treads a path to less not more.
You are good, you are worthy, you are loved.
Write it down—you won’t remember it.
Tolerance of others is too low a bar—choose love.
Love people; like things.
Always have a book with you—go for that in those spare moments you usually grab your phone.
There’s no such thing as a guilty pleasure—if you like it, you like it, and so enjoy it!
We are not human by ourselves but only in relation to one another.
You can’t say thank-you too much.
Be sure to have at least one hobby that you do solely for love not money.
A strong social network is critical to your health and well-being.
If your opinions, views, and beliefs aren’t evolving, neither are you.
You rarely have all the information so always be full of grace and humility towards others.
Having your spouse or partner as your one and only close friend is imprudent.
Only those convinced they need help can be helped.
You are not as rational as you think you are.
Always be asking yourself how you can bring love, joy, and light to those you are with.
Read fiction books—you'll often learn more than from non-fiction.

—Sam

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👉 @samradford | samradford.com