Dec 212011
 

I recently saw a TED Talk by Graphic Designer Stefan Sagmeister. He takes the audience on a journey through moments of his life that made him happy. He focuses on which of these moments had to do with good design, but in one slide he lists bullets of “Things I’ve Learned In My Life So Far”.

Some of them caught my eye, so I thought I’d document them here for reference:

  • 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
  • Organizing a charity group is surprisingly easy
  • Everything I do always comes back to me
  • Drugs feel great in the beginning and become a drag later on
  • 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

I’d like to come up with a list of my own. I know some of them will include:

  • Life’s not black/white. Balance is important.
  • Giving is more rewarding than receiving.
  • Bad times/experiences leave you with a good story to tell.
  • Don’t worry about things you cannot control.
  • You can’t change people. Accept them as is or reject them.
  • Future planning just leads to rigidity and failed expectations.
  • Exercise is all the stress management I need.

I’ll add to this list as I gather more.

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