The Basic Rules of Life - PART THREE

The Rules - Part 3

You are not your car.
Way too many men equate their motor vehicles with “who they are.” For some reason this extends into their own sense of being men as well. Because of that, they will drive too fast, cut off other drivers and get mad on the highway when they can’t have their own way. It is amazing to me that someone could get shot because they passed someone on a road. A car is merely a way to get from one place to another. If you’ve got air conditioning, a comfortable seat and a good radio, the trip is more enjoyable. But the way a car looks, how new it might be or how fast it can travel has nothing to do with the person behind the wheel. A serial killer can buy a Mercedes and more than a few millionaires are known to drive old pickup trucks. You can’t buy status.

Don’t look at the label, look at the seams.
Designer labels are just a piece of cloth. Buying a shirt, pair of pants or shoes because someone has placed a designer label on them is a waste of money and they don’t pay you to do their advertising for them. You can’t buy status.

Make a fool of yourself.
Dance. Laugh. Be silly in front of dogs and babies. For goodness sake, don’t take yourself too seriously. If you do something stupid, laugh along with everyone else, but don’t make it a point to make fun of others. I am sure that if you look at your own actions, there is plenty to laugh at.

Smile.
I don’t know why, but it is harder to be happy than it is to be sad. Smiling, just because you can, will make you feel better. Really, when you are feeling really crappy, try cracking a smile. After a short while your attitude and behavior will improve. Trust me, it works.

Don’t get married.
Unless you are really sure you want to do so. Staying married is the second hardest thing a person can do. If you find someone who you love in spite of his or her idiotic, sloppy and mindless ways then by all means marry that person as soon as you can. Chances are, they may love you in spite of your idiotic, sloppy and mindless ways as well. A happy marriage is a rare and wonderful thing…and worth fighting for. But for God’s shake, choose wisely. Think to yourself, “Do I want to get old, really old and tired and bored and upset with this person for the rest of my life?” If the answer is yes, marry that person and don’t look back.

Don’t have children.
Unless you are absolutely, 100% and really sure. Having children is easy but raising them is the hardest thing a person will ever do in his or her life. There is no task more difficult. Anyone can make a baby, but it takes patience, skill, money, time and more love than you thought possibly existed in the universe to raise a child. There may be no greater joy than for a parent to see their children grow and find happiness. But if you decide not to have children, then don’t. There is no shame in choosing this path. By doing so, you may be able to help the others who are raising children by spending time and energy on which they may be running a bit low. There is great joy in becoming a favorite aunt, uncle or mentor to young people.