My list of Do's and Don'ts

Just finished installing my brand new DVD player - the super cool Philips player that plays everything from DivX, MP4s, and even has a USB drive that allows you to 'plug in' your MP3 players, even the iPod! Radical! :)

Have you ever picked up a gadget that's so cool, so exciting that you can't wait to turn in on!? Well, I'm sure you've been there. But, before you do that there's always the user manual or instruction guide you should read (the most boring part of your new purchase and almost your enemy at that time - preventing you from getting straight to your brand new friend). Although we know what's best for us and our new gizmo, so read it we do. I too, like you, have gone through a number of manuals and user guides in my two and half odd decade life span. Some, I must say, have educated me while others have been so long and boring... they've put me to sleep! Over time, I devised a way to 'breeze through' manuals without falling asleep and yet not missing out on the essentials - Skip to the DOs and DON'Ts list. That's all you really need to know on what to and what not to do! Then of course if you're stuck, for example, with a certain new function, you can always check the index and skip right to the page.

DOs and DON'Ts just make life so much simpler; it's like skipping the songs in a 4-hour movie and just getting down to the juice of the story. I got so used to DOs and DON'Ts lists with time, everything I planned or did started being mentally guided by my own DOs and DON'Ts. Of course experience makes you edit them but it stays and builds up over time. I always thought I'd publish my list some day and imagined people referring to it like a bible. There's no harm in hoping, is there? :-)  But thank God for blogs!! I thought why not put it up on my blog - it's for people to read and have fun, and if there's something in there that's useful to someone, well, I can have a moment! So here's Janice Pearl's list of DOs & DON'Ts:

DOs

1. Leave spare keys to your house and car in another person's safe custody, for a 'lock out' moment
2. Ensure your insurance policies are current and valid
3. Work out or jog or cycle or dance - keep yourself physically active. If you miss out or take a break, getting back today is better than getting back next week (in retrospect). If you don't, STARTING TODAY isn't a bad idea
4. Spend time doing nothing at least once a fortnight (alone or with close ones)
5. Get out into nature (no technology, no car, no preserved food, no plastic) at least once in 6 months. If you've never done it before go with a group of eco-traveling experts
6. Eat everything you like in moderate proportions
7. Keep your finger and toe nails clean
8. Aim to unfold a lie/secret you've kept from your family/loved one at Christmas/Diwali (or any festival you celebrate together as a family). That way you'll have a lighter conscience as the years go by
9. Learn to cook, do the laundry, pay bills and manage finances for the household independently no matter how unnecessary you feel it is - you never know what emergency situation you may be in
10. Volunteer your services, even if for just a day, at an oldage home or orphanage - it'll remind you of how blessed you are and give you a sneak peak of what could have been
11. Aim to learn a new skill every year as part of your new year's resolution
12. Pray
13. ALWAYS wear good/clean underwear, you never know when you have that 'pant splitting' moment

DON'Ts

1. Don't pay interest on your credit cards if you can avoid it. You own every bit of the money you earn
2. Don't take your family and loved ones for granted. There's not much you can say to them once they're no longer with you or vice versa
3. Do NOT be cruel to animals; nature has its way of balancing things out
4. Don't neglect your teeth! Good oral and dental hygiene will keep you thanking your efforts for many decades in the future
5. Don't give in to anger and frustration easily. Fight with yourself to reason out situations. Say to yourself "why would a rational, decent human being behave this way?"
6. Don't delay repayment of debt; it's like a whirlpool that only takes your deeper and deeper from the surface
7. Don't be too egoistic about reconciling with old friends that you've had a fall-out with. After all you wouldn't be so hurt if they didn't matter
8. Don't neglect your elbow, neck, knees and ankles in your skin care regimes: they're the first to give you away
9. Don't forget to thank your professors and teachers, and all those who made a difference in your life; it may be for a year but you'll be talking about them long until your memory allows you to
10. Don't pop pills and pain killers for every illness and ache; nature is the best healer and if you let your body take charge you'll see it'll treat you better in future too
11. Don't be disheartened by people's discouraging. If you have it in you and truly want something - just do what you believe. People always have different opinions and besides if you didn't have your own opinion what would make you different?
12. Don't allow 'the way things work here' statement to prevent you from working your influence to change others. There is always hope. The moment you give up is when all hope is lost
13. Ultimately, don't litter, don't waste, don't add pollution. SAVE THE PLANET, OUR HOME!