This comes from a post from fitness coach
Martin Rooney so some are very fitness orientated, but still a few good tips here:
1. I wish I spent more time deciding what I
really wanted from life.
Figure out your passion and purpose. Don’t wait until 30 to find that
out. Chances are the guys that figured it out earlier already have the dream
house, the dream job, and the dream girl.
2. I wish I would have known protein was
essential for post workout nutrition.
I went from just water and no eating, to carb-only “sports” drinks. I
know I would have had way better results if current science had been available.
A Gatorade just doesn’t cut it.
3. I wish I would have been more excited for
other people’s success.
This will get you ahead faster than only being excited for your own
success. Take time to hear what people think. You won’t ever get called a jerk
for listening too much.
4. I wish I would have had a full length
mirror in my house.
Then I would have known I had to train my legs, too. To think of all the
times I did biceps curls instead of squats…
5. I wish I had paid attention to the effect
food had on me.
Some foods made me drowsy and others gave me a throat full of phlegm. I
thought it was “normal.” Now I replaced that word with “allergy.” Start
figuring how foods you eat are affecting you.
6. I wish I would have known girls are more
attracted to guys who have fun.
Guys who try to look big and tough miss out.
7. I wish I would have learned to keep my
house and car neat.
Someday a girl is going to come to one of them and care about chewed
fingernails and the stain on your pillow case. Protein bottles in the back?
They smell worse than you think they do.
8. I wish I got rid of things faster.
Once your favorite t-shirt has more holes than a Tiger Woods alibi, it’s
time to let it go. Same goes for the old sneakers you’ll never wear again. Same
thing with resentment and ill-will.
9. I wish I would have saved more money.
Get a financial planner, an IRA going, and invest. Don’t wait until
you’re married and someone else is counting on you. And regardless if you have
much money or not, put some away now. Learn the Law of 7 and the idea of
compounding interest.
10. I wish I would have learned that driving
20-30 miles doesn’t make a bar any better.
Odds are the bar in your town will be just as fun. And your chances of
trouble (DUI, etc.) go way down.
11. I wish I would have known what kinds of
food weren’t good for me.
Most labels with “Light,” “Healthy,” or “part of a nutritious diet” are
really just trying to cover up how crappy the food actually is.
12. I wish I followed my instincts more.
Listen to that knot in your gut. If you think she might not be the right
girl, she probably isn’t. Same goes for your job. Of all the voices you hear,
your own may be the wisest and hardest to listen to.
13. I wish I had been more coachable.
Welcome feedback and understand that criticism is positive. Just like
rubbing alcohol on a scrape, it will be painful at first. But you’ll be better
off cleaning strategic areas of your life.
14. I wish I would have written down exactly
what I wanted.
Spend more time planning where you’re going in life than planning where
you are going on Friday night.
15. I wish I started my “private” university
earlier.
Build your personal library and read. 20 pages a night 5 days a week
turns into 100 books in 5 years. 100 books in 5 years can turn you into an
expert…in anything.
16. I wish I would have know there was a
rotator cuff, feet muscles, neck muscles, hip adductors and abductors.
I would have worked on those more.
17. I wish I had learned the true power of a
thank you.
Since I’ve adopted an authentic “attitude of gratitude,” my life has
been much smoother. Hint: send a card or gift to someone that deserves it today.
18. I wish I had not been “too busy” for my
parents.
When you get older, get a real job, and get married, you only have less
time for your parents. Realize that they’re people, just like you. And that
they’re actually pretty smart and fun to be around.
19. I wish I used my “down time” better.
Speaking of “too busy,” never say that you are. 24 hours is enough time
to get stuff done and still have fun.
20. I wish I was less concerned with what
everyone else thought about me.
I now know a thick skin isn’t just important for your hands and working
out. It’s important for life and not caring about other people’s opinions of
you. The fastest way to be unhappy is to worry about making everybody else
happy and not staying true to yourself.
21. I wish I would have laughed more.
Make sure to laugh everyday. Learn to speak the language of “serious
fun.” As it implies, get the serious stuff done…but make sure you have your
share of fun and play, too.
22. I wish I would have quit some things
faster.
Know when to quit things. Although it may seem counterintuitive, there are
people, situations, and places where you are spending your time that aren’t
serving you. Quit them.
23. I wish I would have defined my values
earlier.
Decide what you stand for. If you don’t stand for much, you’ll fall for
anything.
My first jobs, workouts, and girlfriends were because other people said
they would be good for me. Make that choice for yourself and you won’t develop
a weak set of knees when the time comes to stand up for yourself.
24. I wish I didn’t let other people’s
expectations hold me back.
Eight words to remove from your vocabulary: “What will people say? What
will people think?”
25. I wish I had gossiped less.
Build people up to their face and don’t talk to people behind their
back. It only leads to trouble.
26. I wish I had trained around injury
better.
Your body has incredible recuperative powers. Don’t let injuries or time
off hold you back. And remember, even if you took time off, it’s never too late
to start again toward fitness.
27. I wish I would have treated my body like
my car.
In other words, don’t just pay attention to your body when there’s a
problem. Also, make sure you are putting the right things in the gas tank. Just
because it looks good on the outside doesn’t mean everything is good on the
inside.
28. I wish I had “kept in touch” better.
Don’t let more than three months go by without staying in touch with the
important people in your network.
29. I wish I had built my network even
faster.
Surround yourself with people more fit, successful, and wealthy than you
are. Just like the tide, you will rise or fall according to the influential
bodies around you.
30. I wish I would have realized that the
world is “service” oriented.
Serve others. You’ll learn as you get older that it’s not about what you
get, but what you give back that really counts.
XXX
