Ten Rules for Living

Some famous people wrote rules for living. It has been suggested to write rules and goals for yourself. Apparently, they are something to cherish in the years ahead, to look back at and be fond of, and to see if they match up with your current ideals for life conduct. So, in consideration of this, here are some things that I thought were important, and here are my rules for living at this point in time:

Rule 1.Listen to other people.
Surely you wish to be listened to, and the more you listen, the more you learn. What you may end up learning is that some people are stupid or grasp firmly onto ideas with no basis, but at least you're exposed to different viewpoints.

Rule 2.Decide things for yourself.
It may take seconds or it may take years, but you will have more conviction and understanding if you think something through yourself.

Rule 3.Be yourself.
This mantra is told over and over, yet I see many people who still insist on using fake fronts for certain people. Granted, if you do not consciencely put on facades, and do not stay within the limits of what they regard as "normal," people will not hesitate to ask you if you have mental disorders, leading into the next rule...

Rule 4.Be strong inside.
Others may attack the pillars that hold you (as a person) up, but let your pillars be stones for the water of their insults to wash off of. This is sometimes hard, and sometimes your pillars shall suffer erosion, but once you regain the lost confidence it is like fixing the erosion with mortar.

Rule 5.Don't be afraid to speak.
Everyone does not think completely alike, and an idea of yours may not yet have been thought by anyone else, however obvious it seems.

Rule 6.Do not flaunt things that are naturally yours.
It is in most people's natures to become jealous, and envy is not a boon. Also, modesty is easier to get along with than arrogance.

Rule 7.Do not purposely do things to annoy.
In short, do not act like a bratty little brother. It would appear unbecoming for anyone.

Rule 8.Do not obsess over any one person or thing.
The people who have to listen to you will soon become annoyed or start ignoring you when you bring up the topic yet again. Also, the victim of this obsession may be mad creeped out if they were to discover.

Rule 9.Read on your own time and of your own free will.
Books will always be several times better if you are not forced to read them. Reading also increases your knowledge and vocabulary with almost no effort, while you are entertaining yourself.

Rule 10.Always have a sense of humor and let yourself be a jackass once in a while.
This rule pretty much explains itself. Humor can, additionally, resolve many problems.

These are some rules for living; you may agree or disagree with them. These rules do not have to be written or anything firm, they can be ideals floating in the myriad of what is physically regarded as the brain. The aforementioned rules came from observing others and myself; they are more words or wisdom than rules, and that is how it should be.

Inspiration and etcetera
This piece was written relatively early in the school year, about the second marking period. It is a list modeled off the lists shown to us in class, with rules that should be followed so that ideally you could be a better or happier person. There are ten rules, to be more exact. This was a difficult piece to write, and it took a while to come up with all ten.
I think Rule 10 is a very important rule, and I also like this rule the best. Being an overly uptight person is generally no fun for anyone.

Rule 8 is also important because I came up with it after observing habits of certain friends and how it affected and leaked onto other people (such as me.) The first few are also important for people as individuals, in order to try to be happy with themselves and spread the love to others.

Rules 6 and 7 are not as important, and are mainly just for the happiness of surrounding people. However, they deserve a place on the list, because you yourself are often one of the other people, in respect to another person being "I."