Greetings Reader!

On November 23, 1963 -- hours following President John F. Kennedy's assassination, I gasped for my first breaths.

For the past few weeks, I've been gathering lessons learned from 59 years around the sun.

17 Valuable Lessons Learned

🎂 Thing 1:
​Decisions you make in early adulthood are typically less binary than you think they are. Exceptions include: choosing a spouse, body art with that someone you've been dating for three days, and plain versus peanut M&M's.

🎂 Thing 2:
​There's no such thing as the "right job" or the "wrong job" unless, of course you're contemplating something that compromises your values.

🎂 Thing 3:
​Don't stress so much over decisions. Too often we fear making a "wrong" decision. More often than not, you're faced with tiers of "good" decisions.

🎂 Thing 4:
​Embrace the adventure of the life ahead of you.

🎂 Thing 5:
​Self-taught skills and expertise > traditional education.

🎂 Thing 6
​Grades don't matter unless: you're: on scholarship, an athlete, and for heaven's sake, a doctor, a nuclear physicist, or my pets' doctors.

🎂 Thing 7:
​Always be expanding your bailiwick. Polymaths will rule the remainder of the 21st Century.

🎂 Thing 8:
​In politics, faith, or the ketchup-versus-mustard-on-hot -dogs debate, being kind is always more important than being right.

🎂 Thing 9: Expect to wait. Then you won't be fuming when you finally see the doctor.

🎂 Thing 10: Prioritize sleep.

🎂 Thing 11: Respect Shabbat. You choose the day, but you must rest at least one day a week.

🎂 Thing 12:​
Most friends come and go throughout your life. It's how life works.

🎂 Thing 13: ​
Make an effort to keep in touch with your mega-BFFs. It's ok if you carry the friendship. They're worth it.

🎂 Thing 14:
​Your mega-BFF will likely disappoint you. Don't give up on them, or your friendship. Decades later, they will be your most valuable connections.

🎂 Thing 15:
​Learn from your friendship mistakes. Your new friendships will lack the volatility of friendships made early in life.

🎂 Thing 16:
​Not every birthday will be as you wish it to be, nor will life.

🎂 Thing 17:
​Embrace the excellent moments every day. It's not an easy choice, but you will improve with practice.

Happy U.S. Thanksgiving.

Love, me