I love the world map shower curtain idea. I would add this: learn as much of the history of those countries as you can. When I was your age, and younger, I rather eschewed history as "just a bunch of dead white males" with no import upon my life. Much later, in my 50s in fact, I was reading (or trying to read) a history of the Crusades. I was coming at it (rightly I think) from the point of view of an antiimperialist antifascits mindset, but I realized in reading it that I had no foundation about how the world had come to the point it had. I decided that I had been wrong about the importance of history, and set out to learn something about the whole mess.
I started with the Greeks and Romans, read the classical historians, and pushed on for over 20 years grabibing as much non-Eurocentric stuff as I could find along the way. I found that reading Herodotus was far more enlightening than watching "300" and a lot more fun.
One more thing: Nietzche (I think it was he) was wrong about "what doesn't kill me makes me stronger." What doesn't kill you makes you weaker and easier to kill next time. Take care of your body, treat it with respect and remember that it's the only home you'll ever have. I'm not saying you shouldn't take chances, but I am saying that those things that are condsidered vices usually have their reputations deservedly. 50 years from now you'll be glad that you were temperate in your youth. Was I temperate in my youth?
I absolutely love talking to strangers! and my preferred means of telling people I professionally admire that I admire them is sending emails - if there's anything I've learned from 23 years it is that the writing I most enjoy doing is the writing for one person in particular, where the stakes are low and you know they'll get the references. also love world geography facts because trivia is fun :)
This is so wonderful. Great advice even for old people like me, maybe even more useful for us. Which Einstein book is it? Denis Brian's 'Einstein: A Life' changed my life forever.
So many of these are awesome! I feel like the overriding wisdom here is that life is full of opportunities for deeper engagement that are only slightly beyond what you're already doing (e.g., that dumpster you just passed, the community college down the road, the post you gave two seconds to looking at instead of two minutes commenting on, and that stranger who is also waiting to cross the street). Also that improving at worthwhile things is difficult but not THAT difficult (e.g., daily obscure world geography, being bad before you're good, starting something before you're certain it's the right thing to do, and drafting off the smartest person in the class). Kinda sneakily beautiful, actually. Thanks for the great list, and happy birthday :)
This was great. Happy 23rd birthday and 24th year! Re 5 (hanging out with your friends by going on their errands with them), I was really struck by reading The Errand Friend (1) and I wrote a small thing on what I think are the 4 perks of doing so (2).
I love these! Especially numbers 5, 6, and 15—not many people emphasize doing those things! You're fantastic, Annie, keep you-ing, the world will be better off for it.
I don’t think I’ve ever commented on a newsletter or blog post before but I loved this one so much. In #23, you mentioning cool craigslist gigs before listing some TV sitcom montage level activities is something I feel like I must’ve missed out on growing up in the early 2000’s but definitely now some experiences I want to go out and find now that I know they exist :)
Many happy returns!
I love the world map shower curtain idea. I would add this: learn as much of the history of those countries as you can. When I was your age, and younger, I rather eschewed history as "just a bunch of dead white males" with no import upon my life. Much later, in my 50s in fact, I was reading (or trying to read) a history of the Crusades. I was coming at it (rightly I think) from the point of view of an antiimperialist antifascits mindset, but I realized in reading it that I had no foundation about how the world had come to the point it had. I decided that I had been wrong about the importance of history, and set out to learn something about the whole mess.
I started with the Greeks and Romans, read the classical historians, and pushed on for over 20 years grabibing as much non-Eurocentric stuff as I could find along the way. I found that reading Herodotus was far more enlightening than watching "300" and a lot more fun.
One more thing: Nietzche (I think it was he) was wrong about "what doesn't kill me makes me stronger." What doesn't kill you makes you weaker and easier to kill next time. Take care of your body, treat it with respect and remember that it's the only home you'll ever have. I'm not saying you shouldn't take chances, but I am saying that those things that are condsidered vices usually have their reputations deservedly. 50 years from now you'll be glad that you were temperate in your youth. Was I temperate in my youth?
Hell no. Regrets? Nope.
I absolutely love talking to strangers! and my preferred means of telling people I professionally admire that I admire them is sending emails - if there's anything I've learned from 23 years it is that the writing I most enjoy doing is the writing for one person in particular, where the stakes are low and you know they'll get the references. also love world geography facts because trivia is fun :)
This is so wonderful. Great advice even for old people like me, maybe even more useful for us. Which Einstein book is it? Denis Brian's 'Einstein: A Life' changed my life forever.
Happy Birthday! #15 is so true. You get out what you put in. And I'm really liking the "personal holiday" one. How is LA treating you so far?
So many of these are awesome! I feel like the overriding wisdom here is that life is full of opportunities for deeper engagement that are only slightly beyond what you're already doing (e.g., that dumpster you just passed, the community college down the road, the post you gave two seconds to looking at instead of two minutes commenting on, and that stranger who is also waiting to cross the street). Also that improving at worthwhile things is difficult but not THAT difficult (e.g., daily obscure world geography, being bad before you're good, starting something before you're certain it's the right thing to do, and drafting off the smartest person in the class). Kinda sneakily beautiful, actually. Thanks for the great list, and happy birthday :)
This helped, thanks
This is perfect, I thoroughly enjoyed the read!
I love this list, great reminders for the 27 year old here.
Really love this! Happy birthday! Hope you come over to Singapore one day
There is a lot of practical wisdom here! Thank you for sharing.
What a wonderful list! Happy day!
This was great. Happy 23rd birthday and 24th year! Re 5 (hanging out with your friends by going on their errands with them), I was really struck by reading The Errand Friend (1) and I wrote a small thing on what I think are the 4 perks of doing so (2).
1 https://annehelen.substack.com/p/the-errand-friend
2 https://edussincrasias.wordpress.com/2021/07/23/perks-of-doing-errands-with-friends/
I love these! Especially numbers 5, 6, and 15—not many people emphasize doing those things! You're fantastic, Annie, keep you-ing, the world will be better off for it.
Happy birthday Annie! Someday I hope to be even half as cool as you :)
I don’t think I’ve ever commented on a newsletter or blog post before but I loved this one so much. In #23, you mentioning cool craigslist gigs before listing some TV sitcom montage level activities is something I feel like I must’ve missed out on growing up in the early 2000’s but definitely now some experiences I want to go out and find now that I know they exist :)
Happy Birthday!!!! Wow, My birthday was yesterday. I am 68. Wish I had this list when I was in my 20's. You are very wise for your years. Keep at it.