My birthday is just a couple of days away marking an established presence in the fourth decade of life. Every year I write about what I’ve learned as I get older, reflect on mistakes made and what I think the future holds in store. Today is a little different though and it’s due entirely to the numerology of the day. For several years, I have had an ongoing series called “42 Things I Love About…” highlighting my favorite experiences in a given destination. The posts are meant to be fun and easily consumed, but there is a reason why I use the number 42. I’ve had a book in my hands since I could hold one; reading has always been an incredibly important part of my life. When I was 10 or 11, I read a series by Douglas Adams called “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” Without going into the details, the books are quirky to say the least. At one point though the protagonist seeks the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, to which a super computer calculates it to be 42. That’s why I use the number so often in my writing and that’s also why this post today was something I couldn’t resist writing.
- Listicles take a lot longer to write than one would think.
- Never put off doing anything. Tomorrow may never come.
- Visiting a new place every year is the best thing anyone could do for themselves.
- Do or do not, there is no try. (Thanks Yoda!)
- ’90s music is better than almost any other genre.
- More than anything else, fear is usually what keeps most people from being happy.
- It’s easier to say one is open-minded than it is to actually be open-minded.
- The world is enormous, so much larger than most of us can fully understand.
- Dreaming is fine, but doing is more important.
- It’s important to be good at what you do, but it’s also important to be lucky sometimes.
- Bad things happen, how we react to them is what is important.
- It’s not enough to be tolerated, we all deserve to be loved.
- How we present ourselves to the world can, at times, be as important as our actions.
- Don’t let society dictate your life.
- Upgrading to business class is almost always worth it.
- Everyone is deserving of a second chance.
- In spite of everything that may seem contrary, this really is the best time to be alive.
- What we don’t know will always be greater than what we think we know.
- It’s never too late to do anything.
- If something doesn’t feel right, then it’s not right.
- It’s key to allow oneself to be happy, to be surprised and to be delighted.
- Pandas are the cutest animal.
- Reading steadily and constantly is the best education anyone could ever have.
- There is an inherent power in outrageous ideas.
- More than wealth or fame, learning how to be comfortable in one’s own skin is key to a happier life.
- I am thin skinned, sensitive and prone to bouts of depression. Learning how to manage these flaws has been key, if not difficult.
- Most people are inherently good.
- We all age, it’s how we age and use our time that matters.
- Dogs love cheese.
- The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. (Thanks Spock!)
- Doughnuts are the perfect food.
- More than things or experiences, it’s the people in our lives who always make the most difference and impact on us.
- Using Garfield as a role model may not have been the best decision made by an 8-year old.
- Playing the tuba throughout school helped me more than I will probably ever realize.
- A positive outlook really will lead to a happier life.
- Taking time off to do nothing is key to being more productive.
- Nothing in life is given, everything must be earned.
- We should all be the people our dogs think we are.
- Being well rounded is key to a good life.
- Don’t waste time with people who don’t value you.
- Finding my true passion in life has made me happier and healthier than I’ve ever been.
- Everyone makes mistakes, it’s how we deal with those mistakes that matters.
