21 LIFE LESSONS

(borrowed image from Sobernation.com)

I make these lists from time to time, both to share with others and also to remind myself of some valuable lessons I've learned on my journey. Feel free to save, copy, paste, share, whatever. Take what you like and toss what doesn't suit you. Enjoy.

-Be kind to children, animals, and everybody else.
-Drink lots of water.
-Eat fruits and veggies every day.
-Don’t take financial advice from people with no money.
-Stop buying things you don’t need.
-Save 10% of your take-home pay and never spend it.
-Find a job you love and do it as well as you can.
-Relationship advice: Find someone who is good to you and spend every day making each other happy.
-Cash makes an excellent gift.
-Read at least 3 books per year.
-Don’t judge people because you don’t know what they are going through.
-Help others when you can, the world needs more of that.
-Money is important but it’s not the most important thing.
-You don’t need a $50,000 truck or a huge house.
-Don’t take life so seriously.
-Laugh, play, and be thankful every day.
-Don’t take things that don’t belong to you.
-Don’t stay at a job you hate.
-Never leave home without a knife and a small flashlight.
-Be generous with your time, or your money, or both.
-If you think you have problems, volunteer at a homeless shelter. It will be an eye-opener.

I'm thankful to all my readers for your time and attention. You are my inspiration.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.



Check out Duane's Youtube Channel.

WHAT WOULD 10 YEAR OLD DUANE THINK?

(royalty free image from clipartoday.com)

A Facebook friend recently posted a drawing he did. It was of a little boy looking at a man watching TV. What really caught my attention was the caption he added: “What would 10 year old me think if he saw me now?”

That really got me thinking. What was I doing when I was 10 years old? What did I enjoy doing the most? What were my hopes and dreams? How did I want my life to turn out? And the big question: What would 10 year old me think if he saw me now? 

Honestly, I think he would be impressed. I’m not saying my life is perfect and exactly how I hoped it would turn out. But on the plus side, I have a comfortable home, a reliable car, and no debt. I’m not currently working but I don’t feel guilty about it because I worked hard for many years. I know I will find a job when I’m ready to go back to work. 

Also on the plus side, I’ve had a lot of different jobs, done some traveling, and tried a lot of different things. It’s not as if I’ve been stuck in a rut, doing the same thing forever. 

I’m a positive, happy person. Mean and negative people are deleted from my life as quickly as possible. I used to want to save them all, but I learned that if people don’t ask for help, it’s usually because they don’t want to change. Some people are literally happy being miserable. I don’t get it, but it’s true. Since adopting a “live and let live” philosophy, I feel a huge burden has been lifted off me. Who put that burden there in the first place? I did. 

Something else I finally let go of is the need to make everything around me perfect. I used to drive myself crazy trying to make everything exactly how I wanted it to be. I usually came up short of perfection, which added stress to my life. I finally asked myself, “Who says it has to be perfect?” Only me. Not anymore.

So, back to “What would 10 year old me think if he saw me now?” When I was 10 years old, I loved to ride my bike and play outside. I still ride my bike often. I keep it inside the house. I do regular maintenance on it and keep it tuned up and ready to go anytime I want to ride it. I still play outside, but it looks a little different than it did when I was 10. Now it looks like going for walks, mowing and watering the lawn, and gardening. 

Is my life exactly what 10 year old Duane expected? No. Am I happy? Yes. Would 10 year old Duane be proud? Absolutely.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.


Check out Duane’s Youtube channel 

MY SPACE

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my space. Not the social networking website, but the space where I spend most of my time when I’m not at work.

Basically, I like things neat, tidy, and clutter-free. I honestly don’t understand hoarders, people who surround themselves with junk that is never used or even seen because it’s not easy to find or get to. Not to be mean, but it’s a fact that compulsive hoarders are mentally ill.

So, back to my space. I’m not a minimalist, but I tend to lean that way. Maybe one day I will reach minimalist status. At least once a year, I will go though drawers, closets, and cupboards and get rid of things I haven’t used in the last 12 months or so. This is my way of keeping life simple and organized. I usually make four piles as I’m going though things:
1) Things to keep.
2) Things to sell.
3) Things to give away.
4) Garbage.
That’s my system. It works for me.

Why have I been thinking about my space so much lately? Well, I’ve been reading stories and how-to’s about people who sell their home, buy an RV, and hit the road with only the things truly necessary to live comfortably in that lifestyle. No excess, no clutter, just what is necessary. For some reason, this idea really appeals to me. I first heard about “Full Time RVers” about 15 years ago, and I was fascinated with the idea. Eventually, I decided it was un-realistic (for me, at that time in my life) and gave up on the idea.

A few months ago, I was thinking about what I would do if I had to grab a few things as quickly as possible and get out of the city. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a fully stocked and ready to go RV, Van, or Pickup w/Camper for just such an emergency? Or maybe even to live in, to live a simpler and less expensive lifestyle. How cool would that be?

Anyways, here are three websites where I found tons of info about this sort of thing. Check them out if you’re interested.

http://cheaprvliving.com/index.html
http://cheapgreenrvliving.com/
http://www.stealthvandweller.com/

Your thoughts, ideas, and comments are always welcome.

Now go take on the day!

Peace, out.
　

Check out  Duane’s YouTube Channel

WHAT DO I BELIEVE?

I believe naps are good for you.
I believe debt enslaves you; don’t fall for it.
I believe good deeds are always rewarded.
I believe it’s easy to find work if you WANT to work.
I believe most people are good and surprisingly similar to me.
I believe things always turn out the way they are supposed to.
I believe you can learn something from every person you meet.
I believe we should be kind to children, old people, and animals.
I believe the secret to happiness is to enjoy what you already have.
I believe we can choose to be healthy, but some people choose to be sick.
I believe we should always do the right thing, even when nobody is watching.
I believe that nobody on his or her deathbed ever said, “I wish I had spent more time at work.”

Now go take on the day!
Peace, out.