Sometimes you have to put aside how you feel about a person and objectively look at how their actions show how they feel about *you.*


16



Check in on your friends. Even the ones that seem fine.


14-21



Just let a sweet moment be. There’s a time for jokes or small talk, but sometimes silence is best.


15,21



Set up a dog agility course in the backyard. Use household items or toys, etc and lots of dog treats for training.


8



Read The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig.


4



“If you can’t figure something out, figure out how to figure it out.” - Paul Graham


18



Go out of your way to part on good terms whenever possible, in all circumstances.


18



Start “home economics” school with them. Laundry, cleaning, cooking, how to change a diaper, comfort a baby, soothe a toddler, what's involved in caring for pets, budgeting for food, keeping track of maintenance schedules for humans, pets, cars and machines. Engage with guests, be a good host, etc. Know when and how to tell someone to GTFO of the house (racist or misogynistic speech, etc.) Every kid needs to learn the art and science of home management. Look for and point out examples in books and movies of good home science skills.


5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21



Ask them to name 2 current or historical figures that they admire and why (one man one woman).


6-18



IMPORTANT: If you borrow money from someone pay it back as soon as possible. In full. If you borrow an item, return it in excellent condition. I’d say if you borrow a car, return it with a full tank of gas but hopefully by the time you’re driving there won’t be any combustible engines. So return it fully charged!


12, 14, 16, 21



Venting is crucial but not always appropriate. Make sure you’re in the right place (no chance whatsoever of being overheard), the right time (take care of business first) and that the person you’re unloading on has the mental bandwidth to listen to you vent your emotions. Avoid interrupting if they’re busy, or not in a good headspace. You’ll know this because you asked.


14, 17, 21



Get to know your body, push yourself in terms of strength and endurance. You're stronger than you think. You're growing stronger every day. Your body is amazing and healthy. Take care of it! Enjoy it! Use your amazing strength and energy to do good in the world.


12-16



At dinner time, go around the table and share your “highs and lows” for the day. (Re-ticket up to 21)


5



Make a pound of ground beef go further by adding chopped cabbage or mushrooms.


19



Guard your health and fitness as if it were your most valuable possession. (It is.)


14, 17, 21



Surround yourself with people and ideas that inspire you and captivate you. Life is too short for destructive relationships.


13, 18



Three things you cannot change: The past, the truth, someone else.


18



A Morning Offering by _____ (Excerpt) ...May my mind come alive today To the invisible geography That invites me to new frontiers, To break the dead shell of yesterdays, To risk being disturbed and changed. May I have the courage today To live the life that I would love, To postpone my dream no longer But do at last what I came here for And waste my heart on fear no more.“


19



There’s a big difference between being tired and being fatigued.


19



Brambly Hedge series by Jill Barklem.


2-5



When you begin dating it’s all butterflies and moonbeams. Eventually you’re going to do or say something that hurts the other person and vice versa. For that matter, eventually you’ll disagree about something. It’s VERY important to consider how they handle it. Nobody is perfect, it may not be pretty but it had better be civil. If not, don’t think for a second that they will change. Get outta there.


15, 21



Keep stories about younger years to tell them later: You used to call yellow “lellow” etc. Ten years from now you think you’ll remember this stuff but you won’t.


2



Look into a class for meditation for kids. I read an article on a Baltimore elementary school that replaced detention with meditation and had amazing success.


6



Songs hit so much different (better) when you read the lyrics while listening. Headphones help heighten the experience too.


12, 14, 19, 21



Anger is the bodyguard of sadness.


14



Wintergreen snow sledding trip.


6



Always know where the main water shut-off is in your house.


18



Any thought about self-harm is like a “check engine” light going off for your brain. Seek professional help. You will recover.


12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21



Jumper cables 101


14



“Tell me the story of your day.” (Works better than “how was your day?”


5, 6, 10