32 THINGS I'VE LEARNED IN 32 YEARS

Youth is brief; enjoy it. Never feel awkward about laughing loudly. You will not always be able to forgive - that's okay, just learn to let go. Of all the stupid habits one can acquire, smoking is among the dumbest. Listen to advice, but make your own decisions. Greyhound toilets are the filthiest things in existence in the 1st world. You can always start over. Be true to yourself. After looking your deepest fear in the face, life begins anew. Always admit when you're wrong. Always stand up for what's right. You'll regret the things you didn't do far more than the things you did. Say "I love you" often. Do not close your mind to ideas you abhor - there is no better way to arm yourself than to listen to your enemy speak freely. Age, gender, sexuality, religion, ethnicity, and cliques are descriptions, not values. Never trust someone your cat doesn't like. The truth is contradictory. The media is a monster of our own making. So are most versions of God. Be nice to people - it sounds simple, and it is. The fact that you exist is fucking awesome - never forget that, and never lose your fascination. Be skeptical of everything, but open to anything. Being honest with yourself is a helluva lot harder than being honest with others. You will stagnate as a person if you do not seek out new experiences. Don't believe anyone who tells you the green salsa is the mildest. The only regrettable experiences are the ones you learned nothing from. If your music doesn't move you, you're doing it wrong. Things rarely happen the way you plan them, and that's totally okay. Perfection is a myth. You never stop growing up. Boxes are not pretty places to live - do not cling to one ideology. Balance is the answer.