If like me, you have recently entered that period of life known as middle age, take heed: The building years of your life are over, and what you are now is pretty much what you are going to be. Soon it will be what you were. You can no longer tell yourself that you might move to Lisbon, learn Portuguese, and take up the guitar. But you can follow a set of simple rules to guide you the rest of the way. Best of all, these rules work no matter what your age and stage of life.
First and foremost, be kind. Mean is easy; kind is hard. Once we reached eighth grade, many of us got the idea that the nasty put-down, the superior smile, and the clever one-liner are the signs of intelligence and great personal strength. But this kind of wit is, to borrow from the writer John Scalzi, “playing the game on easy mode.” Making yourself feel bigger by making someone else feel small takes so little skill that 12-year-olds can do it.
Always order one extra dish—an unfamiliar one—at a restaurant. You might like it, which would be splendid. If you don’t like it, all you lost was a couple of bucks. If you can’t afford to order that one extra dish, then the restaurant is too expensive for your budget anyway and you should find a cheaper one.
This story is from the March 2021 edition of Reader's Digest US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2021 edition of Reader's Digest US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A Race Well-Limped
A reluctant runner's key to keeping high spirits? Low expectations.
Won't You Be Our Neighbor?
These folks do Mr. Rogers proud
Band of Survivors
Armed with his drum kit, a Holocaust survivor fights antisemitism one musical note at a time
UMM...WHERE'S MY POOL?
All I wanted was some summer fun. What I got instead was a harsh lesson in the rip-off potential of payment apps.
Let's Say Yes!
What started out as a way to get my son to try new foods opened up a world of adventure for my family
A GRIZZLY ENCOUNTER
The bear had its jaws clamped on his friend. There was only one thing to do: tackle.
13 THINGS Go for Gold at the Olympics
THE 2024 Summer Olympic Games kick off July 26 in the host city of Paris, though several of the 41 event venues are located elsewhere in France.
STOP THE RIDE!
AMUSEMENT PARKS ARE MEANT TO THRILL. BUT OFTEN THEY JUST MAKE US SICK. ONE INTREPID RIDER IS ON A QUEST TO FIND OUT WHY SHE'S ALWAYS LOSING HER LUNCH.
Raise A GLASS!
FAVORITE DRINKS FROM EVERY STATE
A Race Well-Limped
A reluctant runner's key to keeping high spirits? Low expectations.