arcana imperii :: the book of j

forty-five or so evolving rules for life - first draft

01. approach love and cookery with reckless abandon.
02. memorise your favourite poem.
03. don't believe all you hear, spend all you have yet do sleep all you want.
04. when you say, «i love you», mean it.
05. when you say, «I'm sorry», look the person in the eye.
06. be engaged at least six months before you get married.
07. believe in love at first sight.
08. never laugh at anyone's dreams.
09. love deeply and passionately. it's the only way to live life completely.
10. in disagreements, fight fairly and no name-calling (but do name names).
11. don't judge people by their relatives (and don't readily admit to being related... there's a reason they're called "relatives").
12. talk slowly but think quickly.
13. when someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and begin with, «well, it depends» or simply ask, «why do you want to know?»
14. remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
15. do ring your mum. i know, you just talked to her last month, but...
16. don't ever say «bless you» when you hear someone sneeze; say «gesundheit». if they covered their mouth with their hand(s) or let it all out in the open; be prepared to strike.
17. when you lose, don't lose the lesson.
18. remember the three r's: respect for self; respect for others; responsibility for all your actions.
19. don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
20. when you realise you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
21. smile when picking up the phone. the caller will hear it in your voice.
22. partner with someone you love to talk to. as you grow older together, conversational skills will be as important as any other.
23. do spend a great deal of time alone.
24. open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values [unless they're wrong].
25. remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
26. read more books and more of my blog and watch less tv and spend less time at the bars.
27. live a good, honourable life so when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time.
28. do not trust in god, for it doesn't exist. do lock your car.
29. do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.
30. in disagreements with loved ones, deal with the situation at hand and let the past remain so.
31. read between the lines.
32. share your knowledge. it's a way to achieve immortality. (anyone blogging?)
33. be gentle with the earth.
34. do not, pray; think! use your mind, the fountainhead of human achievement. there's immeasurable power in it.
35. never interrupt when being flattered.
36. mind your own business.
37. don't trust a person who doesn't close his eyes when you kiss. how would you know?
38. go someplace you've never been before at least once a year.
39. be a philanthropist.
40. be mindful of what you wish for since you might indeed get it.
41. remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
42. judge your success by what you had to give up do in order to get it.
43. remember that your character is your destiny.
44. learn and practise the virtues of selfishness.
45. learn the rules, live by them yet learn when to break some. [not these, mind you!]