some important true facts

I have learned about life

1. Reason and feeling are of a piece, there is no schism. Just as the earth, the air, the water, the animals and the plants are all indelibly connected, so too are our bodies and minds.

2. The fact that the above sounds cringey-woo-woo is a testimony to human stupidity rather than the wisdom of Descartes.

3. Any adult possessed of an unwavering belief they are doing everything right is almost certainly doing quite a lot wrong.

4. Children should be encouraged to read and write poetry freely with abandon from a young age in the same way we are encouraged to draw and paint and play with blocks and sand.

5. Here is a short list of everyday things worth buying the “best” version of if you can possibly afford it: Jeans, perfume, cooking knives, pens, cheese, leggings, mascara, hair cuts, bath towels, bedsheets, reading glasses.

6. Here is a list of the everyday things NOT worth getting the “best” version of, even if you even if you can afford it: Dogs, cocktails, night cream, cut flowers, holidays, oysters, flip flops, laundry baskets, plane tickets.

7. Geography really is destiny. When we change where we live we change everything. Freedom of movement is freedom itself.

8. When all else fails watch Moonstruck.

9. It’s absolutely not true that everything happens for a reason. Some things in life are of our making while others are neither to our credit nor our fault. Learning the difference and accepting this is will improve your life dramatically.

10. Joy is effortless but contentment takes practice and discipline.

11. If on Halloween every single object you own was incinerated by Christmas you probably wouldn’t care.

12. Having said that, get insurance.

13. Whoever told you your own pleasure isn’t important was wrong.

14. So, so wrong.

15. Unlearning this lesson is the single biggest challenge most of us face in an otherwise privileged life, but once we do, everything else becomes possible.

16. Past trauma is not necessarily the root cause of your suffering any more than exculpating it is the solution.

17. If you find yourself hating everything and everyone and want to blow up the world, try eating a large handful of roasted, salted nuts.

18. If that fails go for a long swim in a calm clear sea.

19. If that fails, watch Moonstruck.

20. You are always allowed to leave the theatre at intermission. It’s part of the magic of live performance.

21. Don’t under-estimate the perniciousness of boredom. People often wreak havoc in their lives just to feel something a little bit different.

22. Swimming and writing are almost the same thing.

23. Writing and reading are almost the same thing.

24. Reading and dreaming are almost the same thing.

25. Dreaming and dancing are almost the same thing.

26. Dancing and sex are almost the same thing.

27. Sex and love are almost the same thing.

28. Chocolate-dipped vanilla soft-serve cones and ‘ice cream’ are not the same thing.

29. The world does not owe you tomorrow, let alone an apology.

30. Even the most ordinary, mundane human life is full of mysterious plot twists and unforeseen events.

31. If you want to make the most of your remaining time here, spend less time planning and more time preparing to rise to the occasion of your next big surprise.

32. Try to muster up all your grace and good humour and meet it with aplomb.

33. It’s coming, I promise.