LIFE THROUGH A LENS.

From all the bad parts of everyone else. Save your good words for those with good souls. Leave your anger at the door as often as possible, or better yet, put it in a bin for the dustmen every Tuesday when they come around. Nothing quite works out as you planned in the long run, but it will work out in a way that works out. Hold your visions in your head for the things you want and the places you desire. Say ‘I need’ more than ‘I want’ (because that’s a positive statement rather than a passing phrase). Learn that your parents love you and probably will moan more than you want, but that comes from them giving a shit. And even if it’s not your parents, there’s someone else who loves you more than you know, and gets a kick out of seeing you do well. As a great man once said, remember compliments you receive, forget the insults. Learn that you will always be learning (oh the irony). Know that happiness does not come from money, but from a currency called ‘making a difference’. Help younger people as they start of the path, and do the same for older people as they are slowing down. Never be afraid to have a conversation with someone who stops to speak to you. Respect those that gave more than you have, and know more than you know. Try not to worry too much, because worrying doesn’t really solve much. Don’t worry about ‘someone’ cheating on you (no matter what you do, a cheat is a cheat, and if they cheat it means the feeling wasn’t mutual and you can move onto greener pastures). Home will always be home, but travel broadens the horizons and makes you realise with every passing year what it is you want more of. Take the time to say more to someone who means the world, but at the same time learn to love the silence you can share. Put your phone down, and talk through your mouth, not keys that range from a-z. Respect yourself. Be a gentleman, or a lady (whatever suits you better). Spend time with your grandparents and talk to them about their past, then spend time telling them about your future (together those ‘tences’ come together to make a present worth remembering). Do manual labour whenever you can, it frees the soul. Learn about your passions, but at the same time try to broaden your horizons (knowledge is power but wisdom is tranquility). Collaborate on whatever you can with whoever you can. Bring a little joy to the world. Remember always that once you were a stupid kid, and a large part of you comes from there. Stay young. Stay foolish. But always, and I mean always, remember that life is to be lived creatively in any way possible.

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