Love, Lust and Life Lessons (Part 2)

I just found out that one of my classmates from law school was found dead in his car yesterday. He was shot in the head. It was not exactly the happiest Facebook update of the day. Needless to say, the news caught me by surprise. It sent shivers down my spine. I seriously got goosebumps all over. I felt weak.

Looking at all the facebook messages left on his account, I can tell that he had lots of friends. I felt a tinge of sadness reading the messages of love from friends and acquaintances alike. His last facebook update was done over the weekend, he was playing Mafia Wars, I think. Who would have thought a few days ago that, a few days later, he would die a tragic death? But he did and now he's gone.

Death often brings a renewed appreciation of life - people find themselves rethinking the way they live their lives - and this includes me. Personally, I try to be happier. I try to live a happiness-driven life. It has been working well for me so far so I thought that I share some tips here, for whatever it's worth:

1. Stop counting calories. You'll die counting. You know what's good for you. You know the bad. Make sure that you get a fair share of both. Every now and then, drink regular soda and scrap the zero; choose crispy pata over salad.

2. Age is just a number. This year, I will be celebrating my 5th 25th birthday. Weight is another number. Your waistline is another. Shoe size is another. These numbers are good to know but life is more than that.

3. Get to know more people. Smile and say hello.

4. Don't over-think things. If it makes you happy, you must be doing the right thing. If not, at least you're happy.

5. Love like it's your first time.

6. Cry if you feel like it. I just found out that it's more difficult to cry when one is outside during winter.

7. Sing in the showers. Dance in the streets... in the club... anywhere if you feel like it. Dance as if the whole world is watching (this only works for extroverts like me... hehe)

8. Say what you feel. If you're hurt, say it. When you're jealous, explain why. When you're in love, say it. Otherwise, and as Julia Roberts once said, the moment may just pass you by.

9. Apologize for your mistakes, only if you feel that you made a mistake.

10. Clarify relationships. Labels are necessary. No greys. No undefined relationships please.

11. Always ask. No assumptions. No what ifs. Just ask.

12. Speak from the heart, always. Well, try to speak from your head while at work. Haha.

13. Kiss and kiss like you mean it. Close your eyes and kiss and forget that a person's mouth is really really (scientifically) dirty. With this declaration, I am changing my position on kissing. I kiss now. Who wants to kiss? LOL.

14. Do one thing differently every single day. Change your route to work. Change the coffee order. Change lunch plans. Change the shirt and tie combination. Change the shampoo - body wash - facial wash routine. Monotony will make you miserable.

15. Try everything once and make sure you get your picture taken.

16. Dress as if you have the money. Buy clothes that make you feel good - even if it costs a lot of money. No amount of money can ever make you feel good. And yes, do not be afraid of reds, oranges, purples, greens and yellows. Color is good for you. Wearing colored pants is a different story, of course.

17. Make time for yourself at least once a week. Be a sloth. Don't take a bath (well, this doesn't work for me). Watch TV the whole day (then take a bath). Jerk off.

18. Get drunk. Get wasted. It's fun blacking out once in a while.

19. Tell your story. People might find stuff that they can use in their own lives.

20. Listen to (or read) other people's stories. You will learn stuff that you don't know.

Time is indeed very short. Try to be happy. Unless, of course, you'd rather be dead.