38 Things I've Learned So Far...
An ode to my future self and a quiet reflection on the past
As I sit in a cafe writing this, in between texts with my mom - my best friend, I start to feel this overwhelming pressure around my head and neck. Everything in my life is getting harder. I feel like I’m in my twenties again, but just from a reflective “oh shit… I have no idea what I’m doing” perspective instead of the “I know everything!” twenty-year old version of me would say.
I bet you’re thinking, “oh c’mon dude, it’s not that bad…” To that I say this year has landed two ambulance rides to emergency, matching my career total - … it seems fitting for me to be a little sad panda today.
Nevertheless, I know I am exactly where I am because of the choices I’ve made, so I’m looking at March 2nd as a second shot at this beautiful thing we call life. One chapter of my life has closed. I’ve learned lots of lessons, I’ve seen lots of the cliché “ups and downs,” and if I can choose to move beyond my urge to wallow and point blame, then I can see that I’m ahead of the place I was last year, and that is a win worth writing about.
Here’s a letter of 38 things I would tell my 37-year-old self in no particular order.
People will do what people will do. Stop trying to control their outcomes.
When they trash talk you, it usually means they’ve yet to heal something inside of them and you just happen to be in the way. Give them grace.
You’re too spicy for many people. Take that as a compliment. If they can’t take the heat let them get the F*ck out the kitchen.
Many people mistake directness for rudeness. The ones that don’t are the ones you wanna be around.
Stop hanging out with snowflakes.
If you put the amount of money you spend on maple flat whites into Facebook follow ads, you could achieve some really big things.
Seriously, dude. Budget. Spending habits are a thing…
Surround yourself with more women like Ashley, Megan, Drew and Courtney.
Build more relationships with strong men.
Find a local community of strong men. What’s that, there is none.. okay, looks like you have to build it…
Progress is progress is progress. An inch or a mile. Small rocks move mountains.
Pick your battles. Let your warrior decide who’s worth your time and who’s the sheep in wolf’s clothing.
People are intimidated by your creativity, confidence and curiosity. It’s parts inside of them that they wish they had most likely. People are genuinely scared of what they don’t understand.
Keep playing music.
You’ll find her, relax. Rather, she’ll find you.
Pray and meditate more.
Breathe. Journal. Play. Your heart is a super heart.
Close connection with friends outside of work time and activities are critical to your success. Spend more time there.
Eat organic. Cut all processed foods. You’ll save money and add years to your life.
You are going to do some crazy good things this year. Like create a whole professional music league, find business partners who get it, find some that don’t, move the needle forward in so many areas… start writing another book, create a card deck and even travel a bit across the country. And you’ll still feel like you’re not doing enough. Relax, dude.
All the work that you do is part of you, not you. Find something that pays. No one cares about all the things you did when you’re dead. They care about how you made them feel.
Keep being real, homie.
Take more “me” time each day.
Watch more movies and be with your friends.
Go on solo adventures if no one wants to join you. Darwin is always your best friend. Love him hard.
The universe is always listening. Duality is key.
Let the haters hate. You focus on love and it'll always dissipate.
Moving into a more affordable place was a stellar move. Keep making moves that add to your future self.
Whenever you come up against a tough decision, trust the Co-CEOs, the Heart and Gut know best.
Enjoy every single day as if it’s your last.
Practice gratitude daily.
Challenge yourself and others.
If you fail to stand up for yourself, you’ll fall for everything.
You’ve been chewed out before… you’ll be fine.
Only consider the opinions of people who you respect and would want to live their life.
Darwin is your mirror.
You have a biological family and a logical family.
You’re going to do even greater things this year.
Now, my future self has a template to go off of. While history doesn’t repeat, it sure does tend to rhyme.
Thanks for being here. See you next year.
-Love,
Mike
