Future Dog Walker

Graduate playwright with a life long dream to walk dogs and procrastinate. And be gay. Like... really gay.

10 Things I Learned This Year

So. My birthday is Monday.
I thought I’d collect my thoughts of what I’ve learned this year into a list.
Because I love lists.
It’s on my list of favorite things.

1. You cannot be happy with someone else until you are happy with yourself.
I tried too hard this year to invite people into my life to make me happy. It doesn’t work that way. I think in order to really share that happiness…. You have to share. People can help you. But until you are happy with your life the way it is without anybody in it, try not to drag anybody else into the equation. It makes things messy

2. Falling in love is the best and worst thing for you.
I think this is along the same lines as the whole ‘egg yolks’ argument. Remember how like… ten years ago everyone was all anti eggs. Then they become pro eggs. Well, I guess they released a new study saying that a study consumption of egg yolks is just as unhealthy as the habit of smoking. I think love is like that. Sometimes it’s perfect. And it’s exactly what you need. Other times… it just clogs your arteries and makes it hard to breath.

3. Friends are friends are friends are friends.
This year has been filled with some of my best memories with friends. And there aren’t too many ‘crazy adventures’ in there. I tried hard to be open an vulnerable with my friends. I cried in front of them. I called them in the middle of the night because I needed to talk. And… who knew… they wanted to be there. They wanted me to be happy? Me? Really?  Yes. A good friend will do everything they can to make sure that you are happy. Make sure you do the same for them.

4. Straight liquor is better than mixed drinks.
I switched this year to try and drink straight liquor. Now, I know that sounds… opposite of a good thing. But it’s amazing. 1) I feel so much more sophisticated just ordering a whiskey at a bar. 2) You can taste the alcohol you’re drinking. In cocktails… I would slurp them down just because I was thirsty. 3) You feel like a grow up. A man. What’s that? A hair on my chest? Probably. Another whiskey, please.

5. Read more.
You need to make time for this one, guys. And I know it’s not easy. But this summer I read so many books and I couldn’t get enough of them. Read. Read. Read. Never stop reading.

6. Travel.
I learned more about myself on my road trip I took this summer than I ever learned anywhere else. Spending a month by yourself on the road… where the only person you have is yourself… and you have to sit through 9 hour car rides with yourself… (See where I’m going?) It’s just like going on the trip with a friend. You’re going to learn a lot about someone when you have to be alone with them for hours and hours and hours at a time. Same goes when you’re by yourself. And it turns out I’m not that bad of a guy.

7. You’re cute.
All those times when you woke up and looked in the mirror and just thought… man, I totally get why I’m single. Yeah, you’re being dumb. You are cute. You are really cute. Handsome even. I know this because people have told me. And the only times they’ve told me is when I go out and I KNOW that I’m cute. Someone will not tell a person who doesn’t think they are cute, that they are cute. Change your attitude. You are always cute always. (Maybe not in the morning…)

8. Your ex will never change.
I could write a book about this. And that book would be comprised of a list of all the things I wanted my ex to change about him so I could be happier. It’s ridiculous looking back. Most of it was ‘call me more’ ‘text me’. Newsflash: If you have to ASK someone to pay more attention to you. They don’t want to give you that attention. And they are not worth your time. Move on. Find someone who will pay you that attention. (Oh… and it’s going to really suck when he starts giving that sort of attention to someone else. Thoughts like, “But… I’ve been here the whole time… I deserve that attention… He can’t do this to me” will arise. But, listen. Take it in strides. Let yourself feel shitty and betrayed. He did betray you! That fucker! What an asshole!! And think… why would you want to be with this guy. Move on. Move on. Move on.)

9. Get things done on time.
I’m the worst with this. Seriously. I save everything till the last minute. Even bills. Even taking out the trash or emptying my cigarette cup on my porch. Or telling people about my plans. But do things on time. You’ll have more time to do all those silly things you want.

10. The gods are waiting to delight in you.
(Thank you, Bukowski for this line) Your life is supposed to be extraordinary. Your life is supposed to be incredible and life changing for everyone that knows you. We are all waiting for you to be miraculous. And everyone in your life can only help you and push you so far, you have to do the rest on your own. Do what you need to prepare. Get rid of that friend that makes you feel like shit. Drop those ten pounds you’ve wanted to. Learn to knit like you said you’d always would. Stop talking to that ex. Stop. You are never going to get back together. And even if you did, your friends would yell at you until you broke up with him. I’m really big about stop talking to someone that is only bringing you down. They are hurting you. Let them go with grace and gratitude. And if they won’t leave… start kicking some ass.

  1. exploringsikorsky reblogged this from thedogwalker and added:
    This man must have lived the same life as me… or we’re soulmates.
  2. thedogwalker posted this
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