Insecurities

Inevitably, there comes a time in a person's life where one must face an insecurity and either conquer it or capitulate to it. Make no mistake, facing an insecurity is an act of bravery. It is best to face it head on, wielding the sword of knowledge and slicing through the tentacles that bind you. And once you defeat it, batter and fry the tentacles using a light tempura and serve with cocktail sauce and a squeeze of lemon.

Maturity

Maturity does not arrive quickly, nor does it boldly announce its arrival at the most opportune moment. It never works that way. Maturity is achieved from a series of moments often spaced out over a lifetime. It is how we all grow, so we must all wait and be vigilant. After all, Rome wasn't built in a day. It was built in Italy.

Open Up

Friendship should never be constructed as an excuse to reinforce your personal beliefs. If a friendship serves only as an opinion reinforcement, you will never grow and see the riches of personal differences. People come into our lives, not to consistently agree with us, but to challenge the capacity of our hearts. So if faced with a friend who disagrees with you, don't close your heart. Try and put yourself in their shoes. And if it isn't a good fit, don't despair. There are 7 billion people on earth. I'm sure a few of them share your shoe size.

The Gift

Life is a gift. Maximize each day with an attitude of good cheer in the company of friends and family. Though life brings hardship and pain, know that life can be lived with an attitude of resilience and cheer. It is better to age with grace than it is to age with anger. And Grace is so much more attractive.

Ownership

Instead of wondering what this day will bring, switch it around and ask what you can bring to the day. This way you take ownership of your moments, and time becomes less of a master and more of an opportunity. Clothe yourself in the knowledge that you can seize the day and own it. But do wear pants.

Bold

People with strong wills are fancied by many who see boldness as a valuable trait. The ability to stand tall and exhort an opinion is, indeed, an important and necessary human characteristic. But do not be deceived. Bold does not make a person right. It does, however, make for a great tasting cup of coffee.

Success

If you want to succeed, you should dream. But do not dream small. Dream large. To dream small is to place little hope in attaining that for which you are destined. Dreaming big galvanizes your goals placing you on the path for self-fulfillment and success. But do not dream too long. That is called sleep.

Love and Wine

Love is like a fine wine. Subtle yet robust. Gracefully aged yet exuberantly young. Powerful and delicate. Sweet and savory. If wine were any less of a metaphor, it would be a metathree.

Reactions

Take time to ponder your responses to the world around you. Acting hastily often brings unnecessary and avoidable consequence. Trust your mind to the little bit of time it takes to think. But don’t think too long. A lack of speed can also bring unnecessary and avoidable consequence. So how does one determine how long to take in deciding the proper actions?
I’ll have to get back to you on that.

Respect

We sometimes forget that hearts and dreams are fragile things. Be sensitive to others around you. For everyone knows it is far easier to knock a person down than to lift a person up. And lifting someone up not only requires more effort, but you could easily hurt your back if you don't practice safe body mechanics.

Be Aware

Beware of those who use obscure words to make a point. Often, these verbal gymnastics are a charientism and a certain sign of arrogance and pretentious petty pedagogy. But what do I know? I’m an ultracrepidarian.

The Heart

Know that you are an individual with ideas and hopes and dreams. You are a soul worthy of love and attention with a heart that beats like anyone else’s. If the world tosses you an indifferent glance or a cold shoulder, don’t fill your heart with their hurt. Fill your heart with blood, which is required.

Respecting Opinions

In the course of heated conversations, there comes a time when one realizes there will be no agreement or compromise. When that impasse is reached, be ready to back off and understand that opinions and facts are always open to interpretation. So offer a pat on the back as your friend leaves, and be sure to use double-stick tape when securing the "I'm an idiot" sign to his back.

Music

Music can summon life from a sullen mind. A song can capture a moment of joy and etch it deep inside your soul. It can sweep all cares aside and replace pain with rays of hope and pleasure. Then there’s Justin Bieber.

Comfort Zones

Many believe being comfortable is the best way to live life; a life of ease is the life well lived. Yet a life of ease is often a sign of a life yet lived. Being uncomfortable is the impetus for discovery and invention. It’s quite amazing how much the world will open up to you if you seek things beyond your cocoon. Open your eyes to new moments, opportunities, and vistas. But also know that some vistas are harmful and cause too much stress and anxiety to be beneficial. These vistas are known as Vista 32 and Vista 64.

Differences

We should love those whose beliefs are different than ours. Though your personal beliefs may differ from people around you, choose to embrace the person whose ideas are different. Even in Christianity where there are many who choose denominations different from your own, know that tens, twenties, and fifties are equally acceptable.

Selflessness

We should always seek out virtue, and there is no better virtue than love. To know love is to know selflessness. For true love is kind and forgiving and focuses not on yourself, but on those around you. And selfless love has no strings. Or kettle drums.