I am up late checking emails. I’ll be out for at least another hour or so. One email list I subscribe to is Bob Bly’s list. Just found this fantastic advice from him while plowing through a long list of homeworks to grade:
I think everyone who wants to be a kind and decent human being should adhere to these “15 commandments of human behavior”:
1–Don’t brag. It makes those less fortunate than you feel bad about themselves. You feed your ego at their expense.
2–Don’t give unsolicited advice. People don’t like it and anyway, who asked you?
3–Be generous with others. In social situations, always reach to pick up the check first. In your business dealings, make sure the other person comes out a little bit better than you.
4–Be kind to children and animals.
5–Help those in need.
6–You have two ears but only one mouth, so nature is telling you to listen twice as much as you talk.
7–If it’s not too late for you to heed this advice, have kids while you are still in your 20s
8–Spend a lot of time with your kids while they are young and still want to be with you. Once that time is gone, it’s gone forever.
9–Keep your mind and imagination active. If nothing else, read a lot of books.
10–Don’t waste time and energy being jealous of the rich, successful, powerful, famous, thin, buff, athletic, talented, and good-looking. As Max Ehrmann said, “There will always be those greater and lesser than you.” Almost everyone in my gym is younger and fitter than I am. I don’t care.
11–Don’t avoid going to the doctor because you are either stoic, macho, or afraid. Delaying going to the doctor when you have symptoms could literally kill you, as it did my grandmother and my father.
12–Exercise at minimum 3 hours a week. Three out of ten Americans do not exercise at all. I had a period of a few years when I did not. Terrible.
13–Don’t waste too much time with social media. Real life is better.
14–Be humble, not arrogant. Humble people are forgiven if they stumble; arrogant people are not.
15–Be a nice and kind person. Treat others with good manners and respect.
Sincerely,
Bob Bly
P.S. One other tip: Just because you can do something to someone else doesn’t mean you should do it.
