Saturday, October 25, 2008

A manifesto for ginger coons

[Having discussed the idea of mission statements for people, I set about figuring out what I need to remember when times get confusing. The result is the following point form manifesto. I'm posting it because I think several of the points are useful, not just for me, but for anyone else of a similar age and inclination.]
  • I will do things that interest me, come hell or high water
  • I understand that interesting things are sometimes accompanied by boring things. I will find joy in the boring things because they help with the progress of the interesting ones.
  • I must understand that degrees are only pieces of paper and that they may not make me happy or help me along with the things I want to do.
  • I will remember that there are twenty million (give or take) different ways to do the same thing.
  • I must remember to do things because they make me happy, not because I think I'm supposed to do them.
  • I will avoid sulking and stewing and hiding under the covers when I am unhappy. Instead, I will endeavour to take positive action.
  • I will not compare myself to other people. Everyone is different. That's the whole point. There's no reason to try to be the same as anyone else.
  • I will not seek easy answers from outside sources. They don't exist.
  • I must remember that most people do not achieve greatness before the age of twenty or even in their twenties. The people who do so are anomalies. I am not running behind schedule.
  • I measure my own success. People who try to measure my success for me are wasting their time and neglecting themselves.
  • The same goes for me: I have no right or time to measure the success of others. In short: I mustn't be judgemental.
  • I don't have to choose. I can do everything. I just can't do it all at once. I must learn to prioritize.
  • I will learn to excuse myself. I don't need to be right all the time. Changing my mind isn't the end of the world.
  • Grey areas are okay. Sometimes, "maybe" is a better answer than "yes" or "no."

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