Your father and I will take you there after you learn to read and write. It’s important that you know our capital and feel the energy of your government at work.
Category Archives: Education
#273 Your rights are both sacred and fragile.
Know that some of those responsible for protecting your rights are doing just that, but some are angling to undo them. Be aware of this when voting for politicians and interacting with the police. You counterbalance this kind of power by knowing your rights.
#270 Support local charities.
Give some of your money and some of your time to nonprofit groups. I recommend choosing a local organization like a shelter or museum so you can see the direct benefit of your participation, rather than a celebrity-supported cause – they already get plenty of attention.
#269 Always treat a gun like it’s loaded.
It’s the cardinal rule of gun handling: Never point a gun, loaded or not, at anyone.
#266 At least try.
Whether it’s tasting a new food, trying a new sport, or venturing to a new place, you won’t know how you really feel about it until you give it a shot.
#257 Nothing can ruin your life like drugs.
I want to be honest with you, because there is a lot of fear mongering clouding the choices you are going to face. I’ll admit it’s a fact that some people are able to use drugs without fundamentally destroying their lives; however, you must assume that you are not one of them. You can’t know how you will react to various drugs unless you try them, but the catch is that if you’re part of the majority who can’t control their usage, trying drugs will send you down a spiral from which it will be all but impossible to recover. Every drug user alters his or her life’s potential; drugs rob you of ambition and disconnect you from your identity. This is one of the very few lessons that I hope you do not have to learn through experience. The thought of your tiny perfection being usurped by chemical addiction is too much for me to bear.
#253 Pay no attention to the line of impossibility.
Subconscious belief that there is a line you cannot cross -a line that separates the realistic from the impossible- is what keeps talented people from achieving success. If you want to write the great American novel, star in a Tom Stoppard play, or be point guard for the Sparks, just research the usual steps needed to do those things, then embark upon the journey. Whether you succeed or not will be based on your talent, not your drive; that’s respectable.
#247 Know how to spot charlatans.
Bombastic claims and grandiose promises are clear signs of hucksterism. Don’t allow yourself to be sucked into schemes designed to separate you from your money by playing on your emotions.
#225 You will get good at anything you practice.
Everything gets easier the more you do it, good or bad, so choose your habits wisely.
#220 If you are passionate about a craft, invest in the best equipment you can afford.
Whether in photography, making music, woodworking, or cooking, the right equipment makes a difference in the finished quality of your work. What is money for if not to feed your passions? Invest in your talent.