Life's Little Instruction Book

Here's an e-mail forward from Anshima ma'm...:

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[My comments are in italics]

• Have a firm handshake.
  Agree, and I do this!
• Look people in the eye.
  Should be done, but sometimes I don't do it, esp. with girls.
• Sing in the shower.
  Sing always :-P
• Own a great stereo system.
  No! Instead own a digital camera.
• If in a fight, hit first and hit hard.
  Not a bad thought... Something I'll have to reconsider.
• Keep secrets.
  Yesssss!!! Keep your own, keep others', but try to pretend not to be secretive.
• Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen everyday.
  I have had examples to show how true this is.
• Always accept an outstretched hand.
  Unless its Purnima Kapoor's. hahahahaah.
• Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.
  Agreed and I am very brave!
• Whistle.
  Just watch out if there are girls around or not.
• Avoid sarcastic remarks.
  When required, learn the art of making cool sarcastic remarks too!
• Choose your life's mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90 per cent of all your happiness or misery.
  Oh God! 90% would now make me think twice, thrice... or may be even ten times...
• Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out.
  I always do it, esp. for girls... hahah
• Lend only those books you never care to see again.
  Read R.K.Narayan's 'A Bookish Topic'.
• Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all that they have.
  This is something worth thinking about. On looking back on the things I have done, I think I have been able to instill hope into hopeless people... ;-)
• When playing games with children, let them win.
  Heheh, I even let my mom win... ;-)
• Give people a second chance, but not a third.
  Oh god! There is someone I know whom I have given more than 10 chances!
• Be romantic.
  This line shdn't have featured in a geek-blog... hahahah
• Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
  Well, that I am, unless people behave properly with me.
• Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems.
  Be cool always...
• Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It's there for your convenience, not the caller's.
  Don't attend too many phone calls!
• Be a good loser.
  That I am...
• Be a good winner.
  That I am...
• Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret.
  Akriti, are you reading this? hahah
• When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go.
  Hugging people can be as suffocating as Pythons/Cobras... heheh
• Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.
  Indeed true, esp. in the geek world.
• Keep it simple.
  KISS=Keep It Simple & Stupid
• Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.
  Let people be beware of you. Have a "nothing to lose" attitude, even if you have everything to lose.
• Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.
  Always shut the taps off after drinking water. Maybe if you don't, there'll be no water again when you feel thirsty again.
• Live your life so that your epitaph could read, No Regrets.
  Indeed, do whatever you feel like doing, even at the expense of routine boring things that are supposed to be done, but you dont feel like doing them.
• Be bold and courageous.
  Be daring, and never let girls take an upper hand with you ;-)
• When you look back on life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the one's you did.
  "I am here to do everything, and yet I'll do well academically" -- Ishan Chattopadhyaya [18-1-06, UCER canteen]
• Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
  OH NOOOOOOOOO!!!!! That can be disasterous, trust me!
• Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you.
  Of course, and I do this.
• Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you.
  While playing pool, you decide which shot you wanna take.
• Visit friends and relatives when they are in hospital; you need only stay a few minutes.
  Indeed!
• Begin each day with some of your favorite music.
  Nahhh, thats a stupid idea :-P
• Once in a while, take the scenic route.
  Yeah!!
• Send a lot of Valentine cards. Sign them, 'Someone who thinks you're terrific.'
  Dangerous idea, but I think I'll try it out this time.
• Answer the phone with enthusiasm and energy in your voice.
  Heheh, indeed... don't be Vivek Narang on the phone.
• Keep a note pad and pencil on your bed-side table. Million-dollar ideas sometimes strike at 3 a.m.
  It always happens with me!
• Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job.
  Show more respect for those doing trivial jobs.
• Send your loved ones flowers. Think of a reason later.
  And then pay the price... phew, this again is a stupid idea.
• Make someone's day by paying the toll for the person in the car behind you.
• Become someone's hero.
  Be a hero in college :-P
• Marry only for love.
  Considering the phenomenon of population explosion, dont marry at all...
• Count your blessings.
• Compliment the meal when you're a guest in someone's home.
• Wave at the children on a school bus.
  Make sure they aren't ver naughty.
• Remember that 80 per cent of the success in any job is x-udd on your ability to deal with people.
  PR is the most impt skill one can learn.
• And finally.... Don't expect life to be fair.
  Phew! How dangerous this line is!