Lessons I've Learned

i often think of the numerous bad experiences i've had in my life, and of the countless cliché snippets of advice that all basically say the same thing: that every experience is a lesson learned....and in doing so i have realized that, cliché though it might be, this message is one of the truest and most important i've ever had to understand.....

and then i ponder naturally on many of the other lessons i've learned, as a curious and imaginative child, a tormented and contrary teenager, and a confused young adult...some of them were obvious, while some required countless hours of reflection, introspection and interpretation to decipher...and some i just had to learn by making the same mistakes over and over again until finally i caught the drift due to sheer repetition...

and it is with this meditation that i decided to share with you, dear friends and followers, some of the more important lessons i have learned...may they serve not to deny you of the thrill or spare you the agony of learning them through your own experiences, but rather, may they be used as references against which you might better be able to examine, and make sense of, your own actualities....

1) Never Reveal Too Much about Yourself Too Soon to Too Many People: rarely does one get to REALLY know a person in a short period of time, and revealing too much about oneself invites exploitation and undue judgment; also, there are probably things about your life that are best not known by too many people, and although the desire to share a secret may be overwhelming, dont broadcast it to the world, and make sure you really truly trust the few you actually reveal things to.

2) Dont waste your youth: as they (rightfully) say, our bodies will never be as strong, hard, energetic, attractive and capable as they are in our youth. with age come greater responsibilities, as well as a reduced capacity to shirk these. your school days will DEFINITELY be your best days, so make the MOST of them.

3) Try not to mix tequila with any other alcohol: i call tequila "the ninja tonic" because it will creep up on you and knock you out long before you know it; it also doesnt play well with others....so if ur doing shots, give José or Patron ur undivided attention....

4) Dont Bottle up your emotions: emotions arent meant to be held inside forever; you cant keep them hidden away as they will eventually find a way out. therefore, its better to release them in a controlled manner instead of holding them in until they overflow or burst out...the consequences of this are often less than ideal...

5) Be Brave: dont be afraid to so something different, something daring, something uncharacteristic....and being brave also means being spontaneous at times; after all, the best memories are often the ones that arent planned....

6) Take care of your teeth: dental (and, for that matter, oral) hygiene is critically important to your health and to your social life. root canals really hurt, physically and financially....

7) Get to know yourself, and treat yourself well: most people who become lost and confused are that way because they dont know who they are, whether they're coming or going...and you are your own vessel that navigates you through this life....knowing oneself, one's likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, helps one to make better choices,to go down the right paths, and so live more fulfilled...and none of this is possible without realizing self worth and showing self-respect....

8) Dont Keep up your pee: the older we get, the weaker our bladders get...and holding it up doesnt exactly fortify the sphincters, but rather strains them, and this paves the way for reduced bladder control, which, i've heard, is a precursor to adult diapers....

9) There is no one true love: Love is not linear, but is a matrix of complexity which is constructed through emotion as well as situation...it is possible to love more than one person, and also to have multiple "loves of your life"....so dont be too depressed if mr. or mrs. right turns out to be a dead end...like Neo, there will others....

10) Live in today: remember, the past is a realm that cannot be changed, the future is a gift not yet received, and time is a fleeting luxury...so live the best life you can today.....

---professor out-----