Life's Little Instruction Book

Reythak · 2005-03-19 10:55:58

This is a book by H. Jackson Brown, that he wrote for his son, who was going off to college. In it is 511 suggestions, observations, and reminders on hhow to live a happy and rewarding life.

He states in there that not all of them will you agree with, and he is sure that there are thousands more that people can add to it.

I will post 5 to maybe 10 of his suggestions a day... er I mean a time I get on.

1. Compliment three people every day
2. Have a dog.
3. Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
4. Remember other people's birthdays.
5. Overtip breakfasy waitresses. (interesting thought, i find it hard to get out to eat in the morning, so yeah.)
6. Have a firm handshake.
7. Look people in the eye.
8. Say "thank you" a lot.
9. Say "please" a lot.
10. Learn to play a musical instrument.

Like I said, it's interesting stuff, some things are like... what? but does have some good thoughts.

firegem · 2005-03-21 09:23:17

i have that book, its great. theres actually 2 of them. i have the combined version.

lil_red-fox · 2005-03-21 10:19:51

very nice

Reythak · 2005-03-23 18:08:15

Yes apparantly the guy that did it has about 18 other titles out, one being "Life's Little Instruction Book 2" but oh well, here's some more.

11. Sing in the shower.
12. Use the good silver. (why even get good silver, it's used for eating)
13. Learn to make great chili.
14. Plant flowers every spring.
15. Own a Great Stereo System.
16. Be the first to say "Hello."
17. Live beneath your means.
18. Drive inexpensive cars, but own the best house you can afford. (Wow, what intelligence, why buy a car that is as much as your house, just get a house that's more than that car.)
19. Buy great books even if you never read them. (... maybe, maybe not)
20. Be forgiving of yourself and others.

lil_red-fox · 2005-03-24 11:32:20

# 17, very good. (and personally # 11 as well... )

Reythak · 2005-03-24 18:07:28

I'm on so here is a few more...

21. Learn three clean jokes.
22. Wear polished shoes.
23. Floss your teeth.
24. Drink champai... wait, I am changing this one, sorry. not here... I'll think of something later, right now it is nonexistant. (any suggestions.)
24. Learn to stand on your head for no reason at all.
25. Ask for a raise when youfeel you've earned it. (I'm against this one, I feel it's kinda rude.)
26. If in a fight, hit first and hit hard... (my advice, avoid it as much as possible.)
27. Return all things you borrow.
28. Teach some kind of class.
29. Be a student in some kind of class. (church is wonderful for this)
30. Never buy a house without a fireplace.

lil_red-fox · 2005-03-24 19:09:55

hmmm, drink... something besides champain... like, Champlain... non-alcoholic, AND non-caffienated!

Reythak · 2005-03-24 23:09:33

it actually says 24. Drink Champagne for no reason at all. which is really silly. so i think we ought to make it run around in circles for no reason at all.

Seraphim Moonshadow · 2005-03-26 19:44:37

I think we should all learn to stand on our heads. It'd be more useful.

firegem · 2005-03-28 14:17:40

i can stand on my head. id like to learn to just stand on my hands.

Seraphim Moonshadow · 2005-03-28 16:44:51

I like to walk on the ceiling.

firegem · 2005-03-29 09:02:49

i like walking on the cieling to. i dont always mean to, i get distracted and it happens.

lil_red-fox · 2005-03-30 16:12:45

whoa...

*watching Firegem waltz around the ceiling above her head right now...*

...odd

Reythak · 2005-03-30 18:16:48

Lol

here's some more.

31. Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.
32. Once in your life own a convertable.
33. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
34. Learn to identify the music of Chopin, Mozart, and Beethoven.
35. Plant a tree on your birthday.
36. Donate two pints of blood every year.
37. Make new friends but cherish the old ones.
38. Keep secrets.
39. Take lots of snapshots.
40. Never refuse homemade brownies.

Seraphim Moonshadow · 2005-03-30 20:30:13

But what if it isn't a card table???

firegem · 2005-03-31 13:37:25

i cant waltz

Seraphim Moonshadow · 2005-03-31 15:01:34

I can waltz and Swing...

firegem · 2005-04-01 13:03:11

i pretend to swing and cha-cha
bloop bloop

lil_red-fox · 2005-04-01 18:43:55

I teach you the elec-tric sli-ide!

OOh-hu!! That song drives me crazy-go-nuts, I love it so much!!
I had to do that song during the last song at the last dance b/c they never did it!! (even though the last song was of course a slow song...)
and then I fell on the floor lauphing...

Reythak · 2005-04-02 18:13:34

'lectric slide, oooh fun... er, here's some more.

41. Don't postpone joy.
42. Write "thank you" notes promptly.
43. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.
44. Show respect for teachers.
45. Show respect for police officers and firefighters.
46. Show respect for military personel.
47. Don't waste time learning the "tricks of the trade." Instead, learn the trade.
48. Keep a tight rein on your temper.
49. Buy vegitables from truck farmers who advertise with hand-lettered signs.
50. Put the cap back on the toothpaste.

firegem · 2005-04-05 07:26:54

hey jeff, ur not gonna be able to keep doing ten and do all of them in the book, there are 511 instructions in the first book

lil_red-fox · 2005-04-05 12:35:53

so what! It will only take him forever! but it's okay Jeff, we appreciate your efforts...

Seraphim Moonshadow · 2005-04-05 16:39:37

We do appreciate them. More, Sir Jeff, more!

Reythak · 2005-04-07 18:27:21

LOL, yes i do so enjoy putting it so slowly, it'll only take me a year or less seeing im doing ten or more a week. here is some more.

51. Take out the garbage without being told.
52. Avoid overexposure to the sun.
53. Vote.
54. Surprise loved ones with little unexpected gifts.
55. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
56. Never mention being on a diet. (why diet anyway. just make sure you eat right normally, and then there is no need for diet)
57. Make the best of bad situations.
58. Always accept an outstretched hand.
59. Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.
60. Admit your mistakes. (a quote i like states, "Don't EVER be a afraid to admit you were wrong. It's like saying you're wiser today than you were yesterday.")

firegem · 2005-04-08 11:58:02

i think im going to start going backwards starting from the third book, and ill meet you somewheres in the middle.

1560.include your parents in your prayers
1559.remember that all important truths are simple(i wish)
1558.plant more flowers that you can pick
1557.love deeply
1556.laugh loudly
1555.give generously
1554.fight fairly
1553.work diligently
1552.think quickly
1551.live simply
1,000,000.spell corectly
999,999.run fastly(its a dangerous world)
999,998.dig deeply

those last few i addd myself.

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Life's Little Instruction Book

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