Advice to Young People

Follow your dreams, go after what you want, have intention and passion and a mind of your own.

Create whatever you want, express yourself, be independent of all opinions, and most importantly, experience things.

Don't try to fit in or follow trends, that only makes you a cookie cutter version of everyone else.  Create from scratch, invent something, and don't worry if it's "good" enough, who's to say what's valuable anyway?

Tune into your intuition, have a mind of your own, exercise your brain, fill it with knowledge.  Get an education if you want but experience is always the best teacher.

Stay healthy, ignore advice, be in charge of your own health and welfare.  Work, support yourself and answer to no one.  Independence is freedom. Find work you like, change jobs and careers often, move around, see the world, meet new people.

Watch less TV, don't believe the media, don't associate with negative people and don't try to please people.  Don't manipulate people to get what you want, figure out an honest way, it's always possible.  Be kind to people and nature, we only have one planet.

Don't buy into the aging process, it's only a belief.  Try new things your whole life, at any age.  I took up the drums at 40 because I always wanted to play, two years later I was playing bass in a band.  You're as old - or as young - as you feel.  Last year I bought a bicycle for my 58th birthday, I ride it all the time, I love it, I feel so free.  Age is irrelevant.

Don't go in debt, nothing is worth it.  It's just stuff and you can't take it with you.  Educational debt is even worse, there are no guarantees of return on your investment.  You can gain experience anywhere and work your way up.

If you really love your freedom be self employed - at anything.  Be in charge of your own hours, days, income.  How much do you really need anyway?  Live where you want.

I've been working for myself for over 20 years, I live modestly in the richness of nature, I create my own schedule and earn enough to live comfortably, I support myself and answer to no one.  

You have this life, live it, enjoy it, make the most of it.  Don't be insecure, don't hesitate, don't make excuses or all you'll have at the end of it is regret.  Sure, there will be ups and downs, it's part of the process, you learn from mistakes, you pick yourself up after a fall and move on.  It's just life, so experience what YOU want out of it.

**This credo really applies to anyone at any age and you can change your brain at any time.  Wouldn't you rather live happy and fulfilled?