Help others to learn
I have a first-class education and have continued to learn many things.
Many people have helped me.
Others, especially younger people, also could benefit from some help.
2003
Be Patient
Be more patient with myself and my learning projects.
Be more patient with others. Be more patient with life.
2002
Finish!
Finish picking things up. Finish washing/drying/putting away the clothes.
Finish big projects! Finish small projects!
Even if it is not perfect: finish it.
Reduce the mental burden of unfinished things.
2001
Be More Stylish Too many people dress in crummy looking blue-jeans and beat-up tennis shoes.
I think this is from the 60s/70s thinking of "it doesn't matter how you look".
Well it does matter to me.
So I will wear neater and more stylish (which means "go well together", as opposed to 'trendy fashion').
Learn the "Jyoyou Kanji" These are 1,945 Chinese characters (Kanji) selected by the Japanese Ministry of Education as those kanji that people should know for everyday communication.
I enjoy recognizing small amounts of Japanese and Chinese.
Now it is time to make a "Great Leap Forward".
2000
Excercise two or three times each day. My judo teacher (Tripp-Sensei, Shichi-dan / 7th degree Black Belt) says "You are only as good as you are when you are cold".
That is, if you fall or are attacked you do not get 10 or 15 minutes to "warm up", so your actual level of expertise is that when you are cold.
I will start each day by excercising and stretching so I am a little bit "warm" through-out the rest of the day.
I have a small trampoline in my office -- after lunch I will bounce for 10-15 minutes also.
In the evening I will excercise again.
Excercise is as important as eating.
Get rid of One Thing each day. I have too much stuff.
The junk has been thrown out, so the remaining things are useful and good, but maybe no longer for me.
Each day I will reduce my count of things by one (at the office or home) by giving them away or selling them.
Check out my active auctions on eBay
1999
Drink more water, eat less food
1998
Drink Green Tea instead of coffee
1997
Do Less Bookstores are full of books to teach you to "Do More in Less Time" and "Be More Efficient".
I look about me and see many harried, stressful, unhappy people.
This country is the wealthiest and most material-successful society in history, so why aren't more people happy?
I think it is because we told to "Do More!", "Buy More!", "Be More!"
It is difficult to "Do More" because there are only so many hours available,
and some of those hours must be spent doing "basic living chores".
So I will try to "Do Less".
Perhaps it will lead to more happiness and less stress.