tag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-18:358045 bjarvis bjarvis 2012-07-06T16:03:11Z tag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-18:358045:787646 2012-07-06T16:03:11Z 2012-07-06T16:03:11Z public 2 I like long plane trips: it gives me time to think and re-evaluate. On the Seattle-to-Midway leg of our trip home from the Vancouver IAGSDC convention, I wrote the following list as a letter to myself. I only now need to invent some sort of time machine for sending email back to myself in, say, 1980 or so...<br /><br /><ol><br /><li>Never speak when angry or upset.<br /><li>It's OK to ask for an outside opinion, especially when you're in unfamiliar territory.<br /><li>It's OK to say no.<br /><li>Listen to your body. It may not comply to your scheduled day but will always win in the end, one way or another.<br /><li>Before unleashing your inner perfectionist control queen, ask yourself: is the payoff worth it?<br /><li>Procrastination frequently comes from over-committing, a lack of clarity, laziness or fear. Get moving again by identifying the cause and addressing it directly.<br /><li>Details matter.<br /><li>Being brief & concise is an art. A <em>really</em> valuable one.<br /><li>Delegation is good management.<br /><li>Self-discipline, preparation and time/resource management are the paving stones of the path to success, whatever your goal may be.<br /><li>Truly worthwhile things are rarely easy. Practice matters.<br /><li>Be generous with advice but only when asked. And accept that your advice may be ignored anyway.<br /><li>Making a mistake is OK. Not fixing it promptly when discovered is not.<br /><li>Learn both to give and accept a compliment sincerely and gracefully.<br /><li>Surprise a friend by taking him/her out to dinner.<br /><li>Forgive enemies and let go of grudges.<br /><li>Forgive yourself. In fact, schedule some personal inventory, congrats & forgiveness once per month.<br /><li>If you can't remember why you're angry at someone, it's probably time to let go of the emotion.<br /><li>An annual emotional housekeeping exercise is a good idea.<br /><li>Take a vacation from the Internet periodically.<br /><li>Practise saying:<ul><li>I was mistaken<br /><li>You're welcome<br /><li>I'm glad you're my friend<br /><li>I love you<br /><li>Thank you<br /><li>I'm sorry</li></li></li></li></li></li></ul><br /><li>Spend time with pets. You are their universe, and they can teach you more about life than any book.<br /><li>Time is your most precious commodity. Avoid those who fritter away theirs and yours.<br /><li>You are measured by your contributions & company, not your car or possessions.<br /><li>Get away from the TV as much as possible.<br /><li>Audio books are awesome!<br /><li>Have you volunteerred or given to charity this week?<br /><li>Every morning, list & prioritize six goals for the day. Be flexible but don't be distracted.<br /><li>Nearly everything in life is a choice --including not to choose. Own your decision.</li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></ol><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=bjarvis&ditemid=787646" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments