Author: Rebecca Toh

“Learn to like what doesn’t cost much.
Learn to like reading, conversation, music.
Learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking.
Learn to like fields, trees, brooks, hiking, rowing, climbing hills.
Learn to like people, even though some of them may be different…different from you.
Learn to like to work and enjoy the satisfaction of doing your job as well as it can be done.
Learn to like the songs of birds, the companionship of dogs.
Learn to like gardening, puttering around the house, and fixing things.
Learn to like the sunrise and sunset, the beating of rain on the roof and windows, and the gentle fall of snow on a winter day.
Learn to keep your wants simple and refuse to be controlled by the likes and dislikes of others.”
– Lowell L. Bennion

Life in the not-real world (books, the internet, your own head) is easy. You don’t need to make real effort or real progress, and even if you fail there is only you. The not-real world is safe and comforting, as long as you remain in it.

But in the end you have to exit the not-real world and make a bid at living in the real world. Your friends and family are there. Your problems and responsibilities are there. You are absolutely needed in the real world. And in the end, it’s the real world that can give you the real good stuff.

Escape when needed, but come back and live in the real world. You’re missed.

1. Listen > talk.

2. No one has to be normal or follow the crowd.

3. Writing and not living what you write is a serious form of hypocrisy. Embody your words / beliefs / philosophy.

4. Most times, it’s not about me – I almost never have to take things personally.

5. Turn off all digital devices. Look up. Look around. Participate in this amazing simulation you’re already in. Manipulate reality. Change the outcome of things. Create new stuff. Enjoy the simulation. It’s fun.

6. The good news is we can restart, begin afresh, anytime.

7. Kindness is hard. Choose hard.

8. Discipline is a friend, not a foe.

9. If I want to, I can read one book a day. What an empowering thought.

10. Stop fighting, resisting, struggling with yourself. Let the imaginary war end.

“The ultimate definition of success is you could lose everything you have and be truly okay with it, because your happiness isn’t based on external factors.”
– Tony Hsieh

When I don’t do the things I say I want to do, the day passes.
When I do the things I say I want to do, the day passes.

Either way the day passes.

So I might as well do the things I say I want to do.

Discovered Explosions in the Sky from watching Friday Night Lights, maybe one of the best TV shows I’ve ever seen… and my heart is exploding.

Keep creating.

“I have my students learn, whenever they read anything, listen to a TED talk, a debate, a conversation – they should ask a number of specific questions. For example, is the speaker being specific? People who know what they’re talking about usually are very specific. They can say who, what, where, when. How many, how often. Now people who are BS artists – they will not be specific because specificity entails responsibility.”
– Roberto Guzman