I started this collection of life lessons in a while ago but never thought anything about it until I saw that Mario Fraioli was putting his out in the world. He was inspired by Kevin Kelly’s “68 Bits of Unsolicited Advice” as was I. I basically copied Mario's format and added a bunch to it since I am older than he is. It is funny how an bunch of our nuggets were basically the same but with different wording, with that I took his wording since he is a much better writer than I am.
There is somewhat a theme that has to do with the problem of more for both of us: You probably don’t need as much as you think you do. Whether we’re talking running miles, working hours, money, friends, or even the amount of likes you get on Facebook/Instagram. When we’re adding more of something because we think it will make us better off in some way, it often distracts us from appreciating the fact that we probably already have everything we need. A little less really can be a lot more, in so many ways. Paula and I have been on the kick of downsizing stuff for the past year or so which has been fun in a weird way and I need to apply it more in my everyday life, as we all do.
While I wrote this list for me, it’s my hope that there’s a nugget or two that you can take away and apply to yourself.
1. Respect your elders. Learn from them. Not only are they older than you, they’re most assuredly wiser, too.
2. Communication is a two-way street but listening is the most important direction to be traveling in.
3. When running on the roads, always run facing traffic whenever possible unless navigating a blind turn or dangerous hill so you can see what’s coming at you and get out of the way if necessary. If you’re on a path that’s closed to cars, stay to one side and go with the flow of bike and/or foot traffic.
4. There are very few things in life that can’t wait until tomorrow.
5. Avoid the letsrun.com message boards at all costs.
6. Once you get fancy, fancy gets broken.
7. Don’t try to be consistently great. Whatever the pursuit, you’ll get a lot further by getting great at being consistent.
8. Don’t spend more than you make and don’t buy more than you need.
9. Your output depends on your input. Garbage in=garbage out. If you want to produce high-quality output, you first need to focus on making sure you’re getting solid input.
10. Control what you can control. To hell with the rest.
11. Wash your hands for crissakes.
12. If possible, try and have at least two different pairs of running shoes in your rotation at all times: one pair for most of your miles, another pair for races and/or faster workouts. Not only is it advisable to have different shoes for different types of runs/workouts, each pair will last a little longer on their own if they have a chance to rest between efforts. I usually have a rotation of at least 4 pairs.
13. Ask the question you want to ask. Don’t hesitate or beat around the bush. Be direct.
14. Run without a watch at least once a week or don't look at it during the run if you can't go without.
15. Everyone needs someone to call them out. Have someone in your life who will see through your bullshit, give you honest feedback, help you to view something through a different lens.
16. Opportunities are never handed to you—you create them for yourself, whether you know it or not.
17. “If you only ever give 90% in training, then you will only ever give 90% when it matters.” - Michael Owen
18. Adversity is just an opportunity to see how you’ll respond to what’s being thrown at you.
19. There’s never a good time to do most things in life. At some point you’re just going to have to jump and figure out how to build the parachute on the way down.
20. Want to perform better and recover faster? Going to bed earlier and drinking more water throughout the day are two of the simplest and most cost-effective changes anyone can make.
21. Mood follows action—not the other way around. If you want to change your mental state, change your environment first.
22. Enough is enough. We’re wired to want more and/or better: more miles, another personal best, more friends, a bigger bank account, more stuff, better recognition, a bigger house, another pint of ice cream, and the list goes on. Learn to be content with what you have and appreciate when your cup is full.
23. Be wary of anyone who is overly enthusiastic and/or seemingly happy all the time. Something isn’t right there.
24. Please and thank you will get you a long way in life. They’re the two simplest gestures of respect and gratitude that you can show.
25. Stop “shoulding” on yourself, e.g. “I should be further ahead than I am now, I should be fitter, I should be married, etc.” Where you should be is exactly where you are. Accept that and work with it.
26. Love and companionship are the most important things in life. Let the people who mean the world to you know it and spend as much time with them as possible. Always tell people you love them every time you can.
27. Don’t be afraid to work hard, but know when to take a rest. Otherwise you won’t last very long.
28. "The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside. Nature brings solace in all troubles." - Anne Frank
29. Most of the pressure we feel is self-induced. The possibilities become endless when you realize that you have more control over the release valve than you think.
30. You get what you pay for: There’s usually a reason quality comes with a cost.
31. Banking time in a marathon—any race, really—is almost always a terrible idea. Be patient and methodical in your execution. Great racers, regardless of the speed they’re running, are the ones who slow down the least.- I learn this at every race I do.
32. Try living somewhere else for a little while just to see what it’s like, what you can learn, and who you can meet. If it’s not for you, you can always move back home.
33. Running clockwise around the track is for warmups, cooldowns, and strides only.
34. If your running shorts come with a built-in liner, there is no need to wear anything else under them.
35. Beware of letting things go “just this once.” It almost always ends up being more than just this once. Stand your ground.
36. Death is life’s most uncomfortable truth. Spend some time each week thinking about the people you’ve lost in your life and the fact that you’re going to die someday too. This exercise invites reflection, brings clarity, helps you identify who and what’s important, and forces you to think about how you’re spending your time.
37. There are graveyards full of people who constantly told themselves “one day.”
38. Be kind. A simple act of kindness can make someone else’s day and it will help you feel better while you’re at it. It is a win/win that most people don't do anymore.
39. Be curious and not judgmental
40. Gratitude is a sustainable fuel. Fill your tank with it often and it will carry you a long way—regardless of how bumpy the journey gets or how long the road ahead of you seems.
41. When you’re spending time with people you love, whether it’s for a few minutes or a several-day stretch, act as if you’ll never see each other again. I promise you won’t ever regret doing this, even if you end up hanging out a thousand more times. Hugs, kisses, handshakes, and other acknowledgements of love never get old. Time is a precious and finite commodity—it’s important to make every moment count.
42. Direction is much more important than location when it comes to progress.
43. Be a Goldfish... they only have a 1 second memory and live in the present.
44. "The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside. Nature brings solace in all troubles." - Anne Frank
45. The more you learn, the more you realize how little you know.
46. The more convinced someone is that they're right, the more likely they are to be wrong.
47. “Excellence. Intimacy. Love. All the things we long for require attention. The quality of your attention shapes the quality of your life. Protect it.”
48. "There's no shame in failing. The only shame is not giving things your best shot." -Robin Williams
49. "The first rule of handling conflict is don't hang around people wo are constantly engaged in conflict." -Naval Ravikant
50. Zen proverb, “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” It’s essentially a nod to the tasks of life that continue, regardless of what else is happening.
I do have more than this but capped it at 50 since that is what I turned this year. Hopefully you found something in here that speaks to you and that you can use in your daily life. Until next week!!!
