Last year at this time, I posted a Facebook status update that read, “I want to blog more, skate more, and stress less.” Something about the way I distilled what I wanted out of my life at the time into this single sentence seemed profound. Then I read Nicole’s “life less bullshit” manifesto, which was a lot more profound than my brief musings, and decided to write one of my own. Of course I’m still not blogging as much as I would like to, so nearly a year later, I present my own personal manifesto to you:

Make plans but don’t get upset when life leads you in a different direction. Be flexible. Learn to recognize new opportunities and embrace them even if they aren’t quite what you had in mind.

Stop seeking everyone else’s approval and do what you need to do in order to be happy. Do not envy the lives of others. Remember that Facebook typically only provides a snapshot of the good things happening to your friends. Be happy for them, but acknowledge that social networks showcase an adjusted reality and be prepared to take the good with the bad.

Don’t dwell on the negative things though; focus on all that you have going for you. The next time you realize you’re already 26 and still haven’t become the next Gaga or Zuckerberg, remember all that you have accomplished so far.

Remember that the things worth doing are rarely easy. And that sometimes it’s okay to have a good cry about those things.