For Social Media (and Life) you Need to Know This

We have many teachers throughout our lives. Parents, school instructors, college professors, aunts and uncles, religious leaders, and friends are just a few of the individuals we learn from during our time here. But of all the people from whom we learn, our parents probably teach us the most important things. They teach us how to live.

There are some things, however, that our parents might fail to teach us – things that are exceptionally important. And that’s what this list is all about. Let’s face it, our parents teach us from the moment we’re born and they probably never quit teaching (or at least trying).

I was sitting in the backyard the other day, watching my two kids and the dog. As the three were going at each other with wild abandon I got to thinking (again) about all the things they still have to learn. And I am not talking here about the knowledge gained from school.

Okay kids this is for you

So, darling children of mine, the knowledge I speak of now is the knowledge that only comes to a person from two ways. One is hearing it from someone else and the other is simply experiencing it. Since I cannot give you most of what you will experience, my help here will be from telling you the few simple things I have learned over the years. I hope it helps. If it doesn’t, blame your mother.

Important things to know

• You don’t always have to drink water (as good as it is). Sometimes nothing beats a Slurpee; and if you drink it, don’t feel guilty about empty calories. Just enjoy it (this applies to many things in life)

• Make no enemies; and should one come along, treat her or him with respect

• Never pass up a chance to say hello (the next time you see that person she may be saving your life)

• Differences are good – celebrate them

• Bad actions do not always make a bad person. Good actions do not always make a good person

• All actions – and words – mean something

• Always check the oil in the car. Seriously, stop what you’re doing and go check it

• Just because someone in a position of authority says something it doesn’t mean it’s true

• Just because I wrote the above does not mean you should not listen to those in authority. It is your job to know when to listen and when to act on what you hear

• Yes, you might be able make it, but stop anyway when the gates come down at railroad crossings. Death by train does not make a good obituary

• Never stop for the night with an empty tank of gas. You don’t want to get an urgent phone call telling you that you need to be somewhere and then have to wait in a gas station or, worse yet, by the side of the road

• Read the owner’s manual and then read it again. It won’t help but it may at least tell you the sections you’ll need in the future

• Asking for help does not imply weakness or stupidity – it implies calmness, rationality, and the brains to know that no one can do it all

• Be good to animals, but never be better to an animal than you are to people

• Find a hobby and pursue it. If you get tired of it find another one

• Be good to your family – they will help you even when no one else will

• Never pass up a chance to travel because it may help save you from a narrow view of the planet

• You do not know it all and never will know it all. I don’t either

• The above is not an excuse for doing something irrational it is simply a fact

• Everything you do will have an effect on someone

• If nothing else, at least remember this: Try to live your life so that when you fall asleep at night there is never something you are ashamed of

• The above said, no one gets through life without some shame. And that’s good because it can help you remember to treat people with dignity

• And yes, always treat everyone with dignity. EVERYONE

• I know you’re good at rolling your eyes; we all are. It’s not impressive

• Love really is important – find it where you can with whoever feels right. It’s your life so live, love, and laugh with someone who gets you

You may have heard many of those pearls of advice before now from others. Good advice come from many sources and has staying power.

Now the reason this ties in so well with social media. Every one of those points matter in social media. Some in media directly, some because doing them will make you better at it and some because they will make you a better person (even drinking a Slurpee occasionally).