My Thursday Thirteen this week is inspired by a post over at Outfit Inspirations called Five Life Rules Girls Should Learn in School. In it Simone gives her 5 “never evers” which are her life rules, and she invites others to blog about their’s. Now, I’m not really one for “never evers” (although I fully approve of all the “never evers” Simone includes), so I thought I would give you 13 of my life rules, but phrased as aspirational goals, rather than as things not to do. I find I’m at my best when I’m aiming for something, rather than abstaining ;-)

  1. Be Early – I’ve never been one for being fashionably late; I’m too enthusiastic for that! I tend to get to every appointment at least 10 minutes early. Often I’m there even earlier than that, and I used to get frustrated at myself, for not being able to time my journeys correctly, as it meant I was always sitting around waiting for things to start, people to turn up, doors to open etc. But, I’ve discovered that turning up early can actually be a good thing. You can help the organiser set up. You can meet new friends in the queue. You can have a little quiet time to settle your nerves i.e. before a presentation. Things happen when you turn up early, and opportunities which may not have presented themselves, had you arrived on time, can be seized and enjoyed.
  2. Be Patient – This seems like a logical follow on from “be early”! I’ve had to learn that sometimes what you want doesn’t just drop into your lap, and that you have to wait. Some things (like babies!) come in their own sweet time, and no amount of longing will bring it any sooner.
  3. Be Authentic – You know, if you’re not true to yourself, then others pick up on it, and this affects their response to you. Not only that, but you’ll never be completely happy as you won’t be living life the way that you feel it should be lived. Authenticity, in this day and age, is of growing importance, and it’s something that I strive for in all I do.
  4. Be Confident – If you don’t show confidence in yourself, then no-one will have confidence in you. It’s as simple, and as complicated, as that! When I walk into a room of strangers, when I give a paper in front of influential people in my field, when I’m attempting something for the first time, I try and do it with confidence. Now, here’s my secret about confidence: It doesn’t matter if you don’t feel confident inside, as long as you try and show confidence on the outside. Pretty soon your inner confidence will match up to your outside confidence.
  5. Be Aware – This awareness is on many levels, but I’ll just touch on three: the social, the environmental, and the political. Socially, it’s important to be aware of those around you. Make sure you listen attentively, and pay attention to body language. Environmentally, you’ll find that your everyday life will be greatly enhanced by paying attention to what’s around you. As I’ve already stated in this blog, and as I hope this blog is testament to, I strongly advocate carrying a camera everywhere with you, as I find that I’m constantly looking for photos, and because of this my awareness is continually being heightened. And lastly, I think we all need to be aware politically, as to be uninformed about what is going on around you, can leave you in a very vulnerable position.
  6. Be Selfish – Not all the time, obviously, but every now and then, it pays to be a little selfish. We all need to make sure that we are looking after ourselves, as only then can we look after others. Selfish indulgences that I treat myself to are a glossy fashion magazine, chocolate and a home manicure, but that’s just me! Your indulgences may be far healthier and loftier than mine!
  7. Be Gregarious – If you are the life and soul of a party, you will be remembered. If you are remembered, you will be invited to more parties! Seriously though, by living life enthusiastically and passionately life becomes more fun, and you attract similarly like-minded people into your world. Which can’t be a bad thing!
  8. Be Supportive – The giving of our support to a loved one, a work colleague, a charity etc, can be one of the greatest gifts we are capable of giving. Not only does it feel good at the time, but it also feels good when you see your support making a difference as they strive towards their goals. Their success is also your success. Also, I’ve noticed that when you are a supportive person, when you in turn need support, you can find it fairly easily. I’m a big believer in what goes around comes around, and the giving and receiving of support is one very clear example of this phenomena in action.
  9. Be Engaged – Throw yourself into things, whole heartedly and passionately. That way, if things don’t work out, then at least you know it wasn’t for lack of effort on your behalf. People more often regret what they don’t do than what they do. Also, by engaging more you can ensure that you’ll have more fun, more opportunities and more memorable experiences. Life’s too short not to be engaged (see number 13).
  10. Be Inspired – I love to be inspired by art, by philosophy, by technology, but mostly by people. People amaze me! Their achievements and their creativity appear to have no bounds, and in turn I find that I am encouraged to strive to achieve and to create. Only by being inspired can we go on to become inspirational.
  11. Be Creative – People often assume when I talk about creativity that I’m referring to some artistic endeavour, but more frequently I’m actually talking about ideas. I would call myself an idea person. Sometimes, it could be argued that I have too many ideas to possibly follow through on them all! But I get a lot of pleasure from thinking creatively and coming up with new ways of doing things, new ways of thinking, new ways of being in the world, and I like to think that others do to :-)
  12. Be Your Best – This is probably one that we were all told as children, and which we probably all tell our own children, but it still rings true into adulthood. If you always do your best, be the best that you are capable of being, then, not only will you get that deep-seated sense of satisfaction, but you will also inspire others to be the best that they can be. I like being around people who do their best, don’t you?
  13. Be In The Moment – I posted about this earlier this week, so forgive me for returning to it again here. I do think it’s a terribly important one though, which warrants this return. Living for today is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. Release your thoughts from the past and your constant striving for the future, and enjoy the moment – the one you’re living in right now.

Now, I am by no means suggesting that I manage to live by these rules on a daily basis, or indeed that anyone else should live according to them. They do give me something to strive for though. I’d love to hear what your rules are, what goals you aspire to.

My other TT posts: My Life in Scent, My Family, New Habits and Memorable Moments