77 Life Instructions Society Has Forgotten
Start writing a post
Student Life

77 Life Instructions Society Has Forgotten

Adapted from Life's Little Instruction Book: 511 suggestions, observations, & reminders on how to live a happy and rewarding life.

275
77 Life Instructions Society Has Forgotten
Ariel Krikorian

The following 100 life instructions come from a book (written by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.) I received from my grandfather. He was given this book many years ago, and he thought I would enjoy it. My grandfather has taught me many things, among which is that family is most important, live with integrity, and love deeply. While this book is slightly outdated, and some of the instructions aren't necessarily applicable to this day and age - learn how to operate a Macintosh computer - this book is filled with many reminders for how to live a wholesome life. I have combed through this book and come up with the top 77 (out of 511) instructions that society has forgotten, but definitely shouldn't have.

1. Compliment three people every day. 

2. Watch a sunrise at least once a year.

3. Remember other people's birthdays. 

4. Have a firm handshake.

5. Look people in the eye. 

6. Be forgiving of yourself & others. 

7. Ask for a raise when you feel you've earned it. 

8. Return all things you borrow. 

9. Write "thank you" notes promptly. 

10. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day. 

11. Show respect for teachers. 

12. Take out the garbage without being told.

13. Vote.

14. Surprise loved ones with little unexpected gifts. 

15. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.

16. Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, & integrity, they think of you.

17. Admit your mistakes. 

18. Use your wit to amuse, not to abuse. 

19. Remember that all news is biased. 

20. Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference. 

21. Don't take good health for granted. 

22. Don't smoke. 

23. Make it a habit to do nice things for people who'll never find out. 

24. Know how to type. 

25. Never cheat.  

26. Learn CPR. 

27. Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly. 

28. Know how to change a tire. 

29. Know how to tie a bow tie. 

30. Remember people's names. 

31. Never deprive someone of hope; it may be all they have. 

32. Strive for excellence, not perfection. 

33. Take time to smell the roses. 

34. Pray not for things, but for wisdom & courage. 

35. Be punctual & insist on it in others. 

36. Do battle against prejudice & discrimination wherever you find it. 

37. Don't quit a job until you've lined up another. 

38. Have good posture. 

39. Don't forget, a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated. 

40. Show respect for all living things. 

41. Don't carry a grudge. 

42. Commit yourself to constant self-improvement. 

43. Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. 

44. Keep your promises.

45. Be willing to lose a battle in order to win the war. 

46. Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born. 

47. Don't whine.

48. Leave everything a little better than you found it. 

49. Don't expect money to bring you happiness. 

50. Never snap your fingers to get someone's attention. It's rude. 

51. Practice empathy. Try to see things from other people's points of view. 

52. Discipline yourself to save money. 

53. Get & stay in shape. 

54. Don't expect life to be fair. 

55. Become an expert in time management. 

56. Learn to disagree without being disagreeable. 

57. Refrain from envy. It's the source of much unhappiness. 

58. Don't think a higher price always means higher quality.

59. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them. 

60. Evaluate yourself by your own standards, not someone else's. 

61. Know when to keep silent. 

62. Know when to speak up. 

63. Wage war against littering. 

64. Don't flaunt your success, but don't apologize for it either. 

65. Be enthusiastic about the success of others. 

66. Don't procrastinate. Do what needs doing when it needs to be done. 

67. Have some knowledge of three religions other than your own.

68. Don't undertip the waiter just because the food is bad; he/she didn't cook it. 

69. Don't be afraid to say, "I need help."

70. Never compromise your integrity. 

71. Don't miss the magic of the moment by focusing on what's to come. 

72. Don't interrupt. 

73. Don't make the same mistake twice. 

74. Question your goals by asking, "will this help me become my very best?"

75. Marry only for love. 

76. Count your blessings. 

77. Call your mother. 

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

70987
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132552
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments