My dad turned 54 at the end of July. He's had amazing experiences in his life, does freelance graphic design work for a living, and loves to learn more than anything. Below are his tips and advice for young people in their early 20s just getting started in life:

Pursue happiness, seek contentment

There is a lot pressure these days to be "happy." But, the state of happiness is really just a speedball of chemicals flooding your brain. The high of happiness is euphoric and fleeting. I can honestly say that I've only been truly "happy" probably a dozen or so times in my life (the births of my daughters were two of my happiest moments). Happiness feels great, but it doesn't last; and that's okay.

Seek a life of awareness and true consciousness of the present moment. Savor the good things in your life. Practice being grateful for the obvious things you take for granted like sunshine, water, health, safety, love, friendship, and a full belly. A life of contentment is not the pursuit of roller coaster thrills or capturing lightning in a bottle. It is a mindfulness of all that is good around you—and in you.

1. Get some sleep

We all want to get more out of our days. We get home from work and there are so few hours left. We crave more time for ourselves—so we push it. We binge watch one more episode, play one more level in a video game, or read one more chapter in a good book. The problem is, that we’re borrowing energy from the next day.

Our performances at school or work may not be up to par, which could lead to long-term problems. Our cognitive abilities become impaired and reaction times reduced, leading to potential accidents and damage to our future health. If the scare tactics aren’t enough, just think about how good you've felt after a good night's rest—it's a good feeling.

2. Start building a solid network right away

The people you work with in your 20s will most likely be the clients, business partners and hiring managers of your future. Treat colleagues and bosses with the same level of respect. Demonstrate your willingness to dig-in, work hard, share the load and work for a common goal. You'd be surprised who is watching and judging your performance and your integrity from afar—hint: it's not just your boss.

3. Grab it and Growl

When I would tell my Grandfather about my plans, he would say "Grab it and growl." I always took this to mean, you should aggressively take whatever action you need to secure your goals and your future (within legal and ethical bounds, of course).

For me, this was a declaration of action. Never be a victim. If life hands you an obstacle, keep pushing through. The trials of life are what make it interesting. If you've been knocked down by something, always think what is the "next action?" What do I need to do to get through this? Then grab it and growl.

4. Life is about the journey, not the destination

The first couple of decades of our lives are pretty linear and spelled out for us. We move through the K-12 system. Many people move on to college, trade school or the military. When you enter your 20s there is a feeling you always need the next thing lined up: the job, the house, the life partner, the kids.

Take life as it comes. Enjoy the journey. Learn and explore at every stage. Don't get hung up on societal mileage markers. It's your life; forge your own path.

5. Be Kind

Be kind to others, but especially be kind to yourself.