“The Greatest Generation” by Tom Brokaw Listen to audio or read together


14



Don’t be a mooch! Contribute: To your home, your relationships, your work, your community, your church, your country, the world. Think about how much you get from all these things. It’s so much more from all these things than you could ever pay back, but that doesn’t mean you don’t try. Dig in and contribute wherever you can. Never free-load. That’s not who we are. Be brave and contribute your talent, treasure or whatever you can. Duty and compassion both demand it.


11-18



Two words: Kinetic Sand.


3



Try house music for focus. Spotify “uplifting trance” playlists. Better than Adderall by a mile.


12, 13, 16



Love isn’t enough but it’s a great start.


21



Sometimes there’s nothing you can say or do to help someone feel better. In times like that, just make sure you don’t make it worse.


14, 18, 21



Adult whining is worse than kid whining! We all have unpleasant comments to say in every day life, but do your best to keep snarky comments to yourself. Be mindful of what you're putting out there.


12-16



You are absolutely priceless. What someone thinks of you, whatever may happen to you, no matter who loves you (or rejects you), nothing can diminish your worth or your worthiness. You. Are. Priceless.


10, 14, 17



When u drop someone off make sure they’re safely inside before you drive away.


15



Let go of things that aren’t good for you. Anger, fear, prejudice, obsession, grudges, snark, etc.


16, 21



Bring Christmas cookies to local fire station and police station. (Annually)


6



1

It’s okay if you don’t know how (or don’t want) to move on. Start with something easier…just don’t go back.


16



I wish I had heard this in my 20’s. https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRtFBvGr/


20



When backing up a trailer, put your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and move the steering wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go.


19



“It’s not your job to make people love you. It’s your job to show people who you are and allow them the opportunity to love you, if they want to. If they don’t, please just let them walk away. They were probably going to walk away anyway, they were just sticking around to see if you’d beg a little bit. Don’t even give them that. Let them go. You’re not a shape shifter. You’re not going to turn into the version of yourself that you think would be more lovable by the person you are trying to be loved by. That’s not love, that’s exhausting.” -Elyse Myers, one of my favorite Tiktokers. You deserve to be loved for who you genuinely are. I wish I’d read this when I was young. Would’ve saved me years of pain and frustration.


16-21



Uplift your friends and surround yourself with friends who uplift you. In person and online. Encourage each other to let your lights shine brightly. Never bully or steal someone’s joy.


11, 15, 18, 20



Check into Brilliant.org for STEM activities.


12



Writing is thinking.


14, 17. 21



Fact: when you drink to excess you are significantly more likely to cause harm to someone or be harmed yourself. Being drunk means surrendering your ability to keep yourself and others safe.


12, 15, 18



Test


1-2



Invest in a laminator, a label maker and a glue gun. You’ll be glad you did!


5



Check out the Wolf Trap Children's summer theater.


4-11



Get at least 2, preferably 3 estimates on any major expenses for home or car.


21



Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman" speech.


10



Be weird. Be happy. Be you. xoxo


12



Let's find little ways to practice self-control and build that muscle.


11



1

If it makes you happy it doesn't have to make sense to anyone else.


11, 14, 20



Build a backyard adventure camp


8



Don’t quit your job until you have another job. Suck it up and make the best out of it.


21



There’s a lot of virtue to the “Let them” theory of parenting. It’s their life. Drop out of school? Not what I would want, but as long as I’ve had my say, the decision is theirs to make. The mess will be theirs too, but that’s just life. Stop trying to control everyone and everything. Give yourself and everyone else a break and as long as it’s nothing harmful, let them. Don’t try to bend them to your will, and keep your opinions to yourself.


12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18