I started this project on September 9, 2011, and over a year later I compiled a list of 50 rules for my future son. These are “rules” in a very loose sense, and are mostly tongue and cheek, but others are more serious. Some are well-written, some are badly-written; however, they’re all written with the intention of my future son (or daughter, frankly) having a compilation of things I wanted to tell him before he existed.
This project was largely inspired by blog-turned-book “Rules for my Unborn Son,” which I think is a hilarious read in itself. However, the work left some stuff to be desired, and I wanted to make my own version of it, for my own son. While 50 articles is hardly enough for a book, and these letters are hardly of the highest quality, I had fun doing this nonetheless.
[Edit: I've gotten a lot of grief through email as a result of this series about how I'm too restrictive, I should let my child be who they are, and whatnot. This is not a list prohibitions and permissions, and if you only read the headlines I can see why one would believe it's so. Rather, this list contains certain principles and ideas that are more important than the brief title atop them. It's these principles and ideas that are important to me, not the "rules" themselves. One can learn the principle, "Be nice to foodservers," without actually following the rule about working in foodservice for a year. One can learn the principle, "The quickest method is not always the best method," without following the rule about shaving properly. The point of these rules is to encompass these principles in real-world applications, not to prematurely set boundaries and restrictions on a child who doesn't yet exist.]
Without further ado, here is a full list of my first 50 rules for my future son:
Rule 1: Go Outside
Rule 2: Study Philosophy
Rule 3: Ride a Bike
Rule 4: Go Under Pressure
Rule 5: Have a Great Handshake
Rule 6: Value Room Aesthetic
Rule 7: Work at a Restaurant for a Summer
Rule 8: Put Some Skin in the Game
Rule 9: Stargaze
Rule 10: Learn About Modern Art, but Don’t Take it Too Seriously
Rule 11: Play Cards
Rule 12: Dig a Hole
Rule 13: Write in a Journal
Rule 14: Learn How to Fail
Rule 15: Travel When you Can
Rule 16: Strive to be a Renaissance Man
Rule 17: Hone your Oratory Skills
Rule 18: Always be Prepared
Rule 19: Wear a Watch
Rule 20: Exercise
Rule 21: Ask Why, Not Only How
Rule 22: Dream, but Don’t Sleep
Rule 23: Play Chess
Rule 24: Go Camping
Rule 25: Create a Routine
Rule 26: Adapt
Rule 27: Grow Food
Rule 28: Have Patience
Rule 29: Maintain Skepticism
Rule 30: Keep a Calendar
Rule 31: Drink Lots of Water
Rule 32: Play Baseball
Rule 33: Hustle
Rule 34: Get Enough Sleep
Rule 35: Use Correct Grammar
Rule 36: Wash Your Hands
Rule 37: Open Doors
Rule 38: Live Your Own Life
Rule 39: Save Coins
Rule 40: Paint
Rule 41: Become Scientifically Literate
Rule 42: Choose Leather
Rule 43: Don’t Waste Food
Rule 44: Vote
Rule 45: Groom
Rule 46: Live Half a Decade Ahead
Rule 47: Find Music
Rule 48: Wear Wingtips
Rule 49: Take Risks
Rule 50: Shave Correctly
Thank you for your support over these 50 rules, and I can’t wait to make a second index after my next 50. Enjoy.
via electrogent.com