Principles Of Being An Adult

Many years ago, on the eve of his 30th birthday, John Perry Barlow sat down and created a list of guiding principles to being an adult. A few weeks ago he shared them all. I thought it was a great list so I assembled all here from his twitter feed.

  • Be patient. No matter what.
  • Don’t badmouth: Assign responsibility, not blame. Say nothing of another you wouldn’t say to him.
  • Never assume the motives of others are, to them, less noble than yours are to you.
  • Expand your sense of the possible.
  • Don’t trouble yourself with matters you truly cannot change.<
  • Don’t ask more of others than you can deliver yourself.
  • Tolerate ambiguity.
  • Laugh at yourself frequently.
  • Concern yourself with what is right rather than who is right.
  • Try not to forget that, no matter how certain, you might be wrong.
  • Give up blood sports.
  • Remember that your life belongs to others as well. Don’t risk it frivolously.
  • Never lie to anyone for any reason. (Lies of omission are sometimes exempt.)
  • Learn the needs of those around you and respect them.
  • Avoid the pursuit of happiness. Seek to define your mission and pursue that.
  • Reduce your use of the first personal pronoun.
  • Praise at least as often as you disparage.
  • Admit your errors freely and quickly.
  • Become less suspicious of joy.
  • Understand humility.
  • Remember that love forgives everything.
  • Foster dignity.
  • Live memorably.
  • Love yourself.
  • Endure.

Also from Mr. Barlow, who considers himself “an excellent ex”, comes this tweeted bit of advice:
http://twitter.com/#!/JPBarlow/status/25980071256784896

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