The previous owner of our ’98 Honda CRV was in such a hurry to peel off in their shiny new upgrade that they left a pet harness in the back seat and Johnny Cash’s 16 Biggest Hits in the CD player.
The harness got tossed, but the CD has been in heavy rotation since. Johnny had a lot of wisdom to impart before he moved on yonder:
- Flesh and blood needs flesh and blood.
- Don’t take your guns to town.
- This world is rough, and if a man’s gonna make it he’s gotta be tough.
- Things need changing everywhere you go.
- Singing seems to help a troubled soul.
- If you want to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range, then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride, trying to catch the devil’s herd across these endless skies.
I’m not one much for clipping items from the paper for future review, but a few months ago I stuck a list under a magnet on my virtual refrigerator, and I see it every morning when I power up the to-do machine. It consists of entries from NY-based designer Stefan Sagmeister’s diary, as revealed during his talk at the 2004 TED Conference:
- Complaining is silly. Either act or forget.
- Thinking life will be better in the future is stupid. I have to live now.
- Being not truthful works against me.
- Helping other people helps me.
- Everything I do always comes back to me.
- Over time I get used to everything and start taking it for granted.
- Money does not make me happy.
- Traveling alone is helpful for a new perspective on life.
- Assuming is stifling.
- Keeping a diary supports my personal development.
- Trying to look good limits my life.
- Worrying solves nothing.
- Material luxuries are best enjoyed in small doses.
- Having guts always works out for me.
Between these two sets of maxims, I think I’ve got my bases covered.