First Draft Philosophy

Take nothing for granted. Life is short and anything that impedes your ability to live it as fully as possible should be excised immediately.

When somebody smiles at you, smile back. Somebody had a pleasant thought of you in their minds when they saw you and smiled as a result; it’s very special to have this connection with someone else.

Don’t repress your emotions. It causes more harm than good because going against the self is restrictive and harmful to your soul. You are who you are and you should be you as freely and as much as possible.

Stop projecting what you think other people think of you toward your actions or inactions. It’s harmful toward your self and to the world around you. Be free and be as true to yourself as possible.

Stop wishing you were different. If you don’t like something, change it. Otherwise, accept who you are. It’s okay to be who you are. No one else will ever get to be you.

Focus your actions toward something beneficial. Don’t waste your time doing something unimportant. Life is too short.

Do what you love and love what you do. As long as everything you do falls under that philosophy, then you are doing all you can do to live the best life possible. If what you’re doing doesn’t fall under that philosophy, change it or cut it out immediately. It’s not worth it.

Treat your friends and family fairly and with love. At the end of the day, they are the ones that truly make life worthwhile. They help you understand the world in ways you can’t even imagine. They help you when you’re down and need help. Their love is unconditional, and you must honor and respect that and reciprocate it as much as possible.

Don’t let writing beat you up. Even when your writing isn’t going well, just remember how nothing else in the world is as fun as writing. Also, don’t worry if it’s not good the first time. You can always revise.

Have fun. Sometimes all you need is a moment of pure joy. Laugh. Play games. Joke with friends. Go running. Dance. Life is too short to not have fun.

Don’t be hard on yourself. Don’t let work interfere with sleep and with fun. But don’t slack off, either. You’re not where you want to be yet, and the only way to get there is through work. Write every day. Read every day. Get better every day. That’s the only way to get better. There are no shortcuts. Show up every day and work.

Above all, sleep. Don’t let work or fun or people interfere with your sleep. Rising early is beautiful and amazing and quiet and starting the day with a good hour of work is awe-inspiring. Don’t let distractions keep you from sleep. We sleep for a third of our lives for a reason: to make us energized and inspired enough for the other two-thirds of our lives.