Adventure No. 13: Wise words from an old man

So today is my birthday; I've gotten to the age where whenever someone asks me how old I am, the answer will evoke images of Kiefer Sutherland (a bad thing? no? *shrugs*).
This morning I awoke with American Boy by Estelle ft. Kanye stuck in my head (wtf, I know eh?) and first thing wondered if it was a nice day out. It is, it is a beautiful morning today. The next thing I thought was that I'm now well into my twenties; I've lived as many years as there are hours in a day, then it occurred to me that I should glance down at my body to make sure wrinkles hadn't magically appeared over night. They hadn't. I realized there's no fooling anyone, I'm not nineteen anymore, no more days of youth, no more young, hip college kid times; now it's young, hip twenty-something times. I'm glad I don't act nineteen anymore, or else I'd have to make myself stop and grow up - what a horrifying experience I'm sure that would be. Yet, I am eternally grateful to whatever forces are responsible for keeping the mid-twenties percieved as being young and vivacious; it seems it is only on my birthdays that I realize how much I never want to get old. Though even with my tenderness in age, I still have been around for quite some time, and in that time, I've been sure to learn a lot, and I'd like to pass some of that wisdom on to you, if anyone is actually reading this. So here is one thing I've learned for every year I've existed:
1. Never assume anything.
2. "Friend" is a term used very loosely; you have very few true friends, and you'll only find out who they are when you aren't expecting to.
3. In life, always try to find balance.
4. You are a reflection of yourself; they way you appear to others eventually becomes the way people treat you.
5. Fairness does not truly exist, so make the best of things
6. Keep self-expectation high; as I often say, "It's better to aim high and miss than to aim low and shoot yourself in the foot."
7. All nature is connected, and we humans are a part of nature.
8. There is a difference between being responsible and being serious, that being said...
9. Laugh, and laugh often.
10. Appreciate the little things in life (ie. a morning birdsong at dawn).
11. The only people who can really hurt you, are those you keep closest to your heart.
12. Churchill was right about fear.
13. Always help if you can.
14. Benjamin Franklin was right about procrastination.
15. Wake up feeling beautiful, that is, realize what a beautiful person you are, inside and out, each morning.
16. Be reasonable for Pete's sake.
17. Always give yourself a little extra time to do things - it delays frustration.
18. Tell someone you love them.
19. Love yourself.
20. There is beauty in almost everything; it is your mission to seek and find it.
21. Never underestimate anything.
22. Use your sleeve or a paper towel to open the public washroom door.
23. Rain isn't so bad.
24. Do everything to the best of your ability and do it with pride.
Ciao,