aim at nothing, that's what you'll hit

My great Aunt Alice used to say "aim at nothing, that's what you'll hit".   She was a regular dispenser of common sense and came to mind immediately when I read todays Writers Almanac.  It's worth passing along.  

 

Excerpts from "How to be Perfect"

by Ron Padgett

Get some sleep.

Eat an orange every morning.

Be friendly. It will help make you happy.

Hope for everything. Expect nothing.

Take care of things close to home first. Straighten up your room
before you save the world. Then save the world.
Be nice to people before they have a chance to behave badly.

Don't stay angry about anything for more than a week, but don't
forget what made you angry. Hold your anger out at arm's length
and look at it, as if it were a glass ball. Then add it to your glass
ball collection.

Wear comfortable shoes.

Do not spend too much time with large groups of people.

Plan your day so you never have to rush.

Show your appreciation to people who do things for you, even if
you have paid them, even if they do favors you don't want.

After dinner, wash the dishes.

Calm down.

Don't expect your children to love you, so they can, if they want
to.

Don't be too self-critical or too self-congratulatory.

Don't think that progress exists. It doesn't.

Imagine what you would like to see happen, and then don't do
anything to make it impossible.

Forgive your country every once in a while. If that is not
possible, go to another one.

If you feel tired, rest.

Don't be depressed about growing older. It will make you feel
even older. Which is depressing.

Do one thing at a time.

If you burn your finger, put ice on it immediately. If you bang
your finger with a hammer, hold your hand in the air for 20
minutes. you will be surprised by the curative powers of ice and
gravity.

Do not inhale smoke.

Take a deep breath.

Do not smart off to a policeman.

Be good.

Be honest with yourself, diplomatic with others.

Do not go crazy a lot. It's a waste of time.

Drink plenty of water. When asked what you would like to
drink, say, "Water, please."

Take out the trash.

Love life.

Use exact change.

When there's shooting in the street, don't go near the window.

Comments

[Sara jean]

I just love this post! Thanks for sharing.

[Chelsy]

Love it! Practical, and yet so deep.

[Nancy in Fair Oaks (California)]

A great "road map" for me to begin another day. Thanks for sharing this ~

[Judy H.]

Love this!

[Leslie J. Moran]

and PERFECT this is! Great Aunt Alice sounds like many a relative of mine. This is indeed what we lack so much of today. Common Sense and Practicality. "When there's shooting in the street, don't go near the window" :)

[Michele]

I heard the poem on NPR and thought to myself, "Self, that's great advice. You should find it and copy it and keep it." And now I don't have to because you did it for me. Thank you. You were nice to me before I could get cranky.

[Chrissy]

Everything on this list is good advice, more than good. I'm a list maker myself and I'm going to print this and pin it up where I can look, and sometimes laugh, at it.

Good one to pass on to nearest and dearest. He'll know why.

I think I would have sat at your Great Aunt's feet and hoped to absorb some of that wisdom.

[heidi]

simple perfect wisdom.

[Pamela.]

I love this list -- very true!

[julie macneil]

i am taking the drink water one to heart! thank you! i love "when asked what you want to drink, say water please" how simple-i really am going to do it! (trying to quit pop!)