35 Lessons Learned in 35 Years

35Lessons

Learned in 35 Years

Every year on his birthday Srini shares one lesson for each year of life he’s lived.

Every year on his birthday Srini shares one lesson for each year of life he’s lived.

This year he asked his business partner David if he’d illustrate those lessons.

Every year on his birthday Srini shares one lesson for each year of life he’s lived.

This year he asked his business partner David if he’d illustrate those lessons.

This is what we created.

You won’t regret that.

You’ll always feel better when you laugh.

In fact, laugh until you’re laughing so hard that you are crying.

Those are the best tears.

Laugh more than you cry.

When you tell your friends what a thrill it was, they’ll have one of two reactions. They’ll think you’ve lost your mind (especially when you have an obsessive personality). Or they’ll want to experience it for themselves. But, there’s no sense in trying to explain an orgasm to somebody who has never had one. The only way to understand is to experience it.

once in this lifetimeCatch a wave

Try somethingthat might not work

Everything you know how to do nowwas once something that might not have worked.

Do something

big,bold,

andaudacious

at least once in your life(ideally get addicted to doing that)

If you need help with that talk to AJ Leon. It seems to be his default state of being. Defiance and audacity might just be his favorite words in the dictionary.*

Live fullyin the momentThe past is over and

the future is promised to no one.

Make friendsnot followers or fans.

Even if you decide to quit your online project, your friends will still be there. Fans and followers can unlike your page or unfollow you on Twitter.

Friends last forever.

Sit in a barwith one of your oldest friends

Tell stories and toss back beers, wine, or whatever it is you like to drink until you’re the last two people there.

The drunker you get, the better the stories seem to get. There’s something magical about that.

Help somebody achieve

their dreamIt will come full circle.

Just don’t wait for it or expect it. That’s the wrong intention.

There’s no such thing. We’re all flawed. My lips are too big until somebody kisses me and realizes they’ve scored. Same probably goes for that weird quirk you’re super self conscious about.

Embrace that thing that makes you

UNMISTAKABLE

Perfect is an illusion.

Comparison is a vicious trap because there’s always somebody ahead and always somebody behind.

Don’t look too far forward...

and don’t look too far back.

It’s easy to compare ourselves when our lives are on public display.

Yet we judge the package by the wrapping paper. You may think

you want someone else’s life...but you don’t. You’ll get the parts

that suck with the parts that are awesome. We don’t realize that

there is no Facebook photo album for somebody’s inner turmoil.

Make a conscious effort to celebrate little victories,

appreciate what you have,and keep moving forward.

Don’t get too caught up in comparison.

Read something

inspiringdaily

Start with the Life and Times of a Remarkable Misfit.

Say what you need to sayDon’t keep things on your chest.

You’ll eventually have a heart attack if you do.

Build or create something with your own two hands

Break out your box of crayons, a blank canvas or a moleskine notebook. Lego Castles count too.

There’s great joy that comes from building something with your own two hands.

Don’t make a big deal out of small things.

Milk spills.Rain falls.

Shit happens.If you get worked up about small things, you’ll have a heart attack over the big things.

Failure is not that big of a deal.

You won’t die or go to jail.

Sometimes life will throw you curve balls.

You’ll end up feeling broken.

Broken does not mean beyond repair.

Learn from your failures

Look for the lesson.There usually is one.

In fact it will take longer than you think. So plant the seed, but don’t get obsessed with it.If you keep digging up the seeds to see how well they’re growing you’ll stunt the growth. You’ll get your moment in the sun.

Plant seeds...but realize they won’t bare fruit for a while.

My friend Maria’s accountant waited for the perfect time and she was

diagnosed with cancer while waiting to take the trip of a lifetime. You

have ONE life as far as I’m concerned. Don’t put living it on hold. My

mom said she made a resolution to do something new every month. I

said “you’ve been on this planet more than 50 years. I think you’ve got

some catching up to do.”

But I am glad to see my parents enjoying the fact that we live in California!

You can always wait until you have more time and money but...

There’s no such thing as

the perfect time

Teach yourself something newevery single day.

We’ve entered an era in which you can give yourself an education that kicks the crap out of the one you got in school.

Learn to enjoy where you’re at

and what you haveIronically that’s what enables you to get further and have more.

Ignore your “To Do” list for a day and

Create a “To Be” list

Spend the day being all the things on that list.

Watch one of your favorite bands

at a live concert

Waste a dayon completely trivial pursuits

Play video games.

Wander aimlessly.Do whatever it is that will put a smile on your face.

on the beach while the sun is setting

Kiss somebody

Try to put as little gap as possible between your purchase date and departure date.

If it makes you anxious...that’s good!

Buy an international plane ticketon a whim

Extraordinary occurs outside your comfort zone.

to the things that will bring joy to your life.Say yes

Money comes and goes.People and experiences are the real treasure in life.

Measure your wealthin friends

If that’s the case I’m getting very rich.

It can be a word, a sentence, a paragraph, or 1000 words.

every single dayWrite something

Just because you write it doesn’t mean you have to publish it.

Have a no asshole rule!

Don’t associate with them online or in real life.

Don’t work with them.

Please for the love of God, don’t marry them. I know some of my female friends have dated them.

If you have to ask yourself if somebody is an asshole,

you’re already doomed.

Don’t trust people who don’t like chocolate or have any vices. They’re almost always hiding something.

Eat a chocolate lava cakepreferably with ice cream

If you’re always angry, anxiety ridden, and stressed out that’s how you’ll be remembered. You can’t sing a different tune on birthdays, holidays, and special occasions and go down in history with the people around you as a grammy winner.

So ask yourselfhow do you want to be remembered?

People will remember you based onhow you were most of the time

I can’t speak from experience. That’s one thing I haven’t crossed off this list at my age.

I’m told it’s marvelous.

Fall in love!

Hopefully you’ll do it sooner.

Stop with the self criticism and surround yourself with people who encourage your genius zone over your excellence or comfort zone.

Everybodyhas greatness within them!Sometimes you just have to mine for it.

Easier said than done.

Written by

Designed & Illustrated by

Srini Rao

David Crandall

Srini & David are business partners at

BLOGCAST FMFeel free to stop by and say hi!

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