As some of you may know, I enjoy watching the hit TV show, NCIS, on CBS, (Tuesdays at 8, for those that need the plug), and the main character has 50 Rules that he lives by. (51, now.) Inspired by this, I sat down and wrote out 50 rules that I try to follow as I live my life. They are numbered more for convenience than importance, some are paraphrased or downright stolen from other, wiser, sources, and some have no meaning to anyone outside of law enforcement. I present them for your reading pleasure.
1.) Always be the type of person that you want your friends to say that you were at your funeral.
2.) Loyalty should be one of your top priorities. If you expect people to be loyal to you, be loyal to them.
3.) Never be unreachable. Because someone, somewhere, is relying on you. (Paraphrased from NCIS)
4.) Never be unnecessarily mean. Never be cruel if you can help it.
5.) Always be nicer than you really have to be.
6.) Show respect to others, until they prove that they are no longer worthy of it.
7.) If you have to lie, add some truth. It makes it easier to believe. (Paraphrased from NCIS)
8.) You can be scared. Still, do what you have to do to succeed.
9.) Never go anywhere without a knife. And a gun. And spare ammo. And another knife. (Paraphrased from NCIS)
10.) There are no rules in the kitchen or the bedroom. (As long as both of you are adults.)
11.) Do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.
12.) Accept responsibility for your actions, right, wrong, or in between.
13.) Never lie on an official document, or in court. If you screwed up, admit it, and correct it if you can. If you didn't get it right the first time, you will the next time.
14.) Admit when you are wrong, apologize, and move on. (This is the opposite of the rule about never apologizing. The strong can show that they are truly sorry for a mistake. )
15.) But never apologize for doing your job.
16.) It is your job to know your job. So learn it, all aspects of it. Even what isn't covered by it.
17.) Take those few extra minutes to run spell-check, and then re-read your work, because the little things can make a big difference.
18.) It is better to seek forgiveness than to ask permission. (Blatently stolen from NCIS)
19.) Your best may not be good enough, but that's never a reason to give anything less. (Stolen from NCIS: LA)
20.) Never believe your own reputation.
21.) Always have a plan. And a plan B.
22.) There is always someone out there who is better, faster, or stronger. So train more.
23.) Doing just "Good enough" isn't always good enough. But sometimes perfection is more of a pain in the ass than it's worth.
24.) "That's not my job" is a cop-out.
25.) Always expect more of yourself than others do of you.
26.) It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
27.) It's not being redundant, it's being prepared. AKA: Two is one, and one is none.
28.) When things end, be it life, love, or a job, whatever, be mature, wish the best for others, and walk away.
29.) Just because you have had a bad day does not mean that anyone else needs to know that. Leave home at home, leave work at work, and don't misdirect your anger or frustration.
30.) Insanity is best defined as doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. Don't be insane.
31.) If you are not happy, do whatever you need to do to make yourself happy. It's not anyone else's job to make you happy. It is your job to make you happy.
32.) It is also your job to make sure that you go home safely at the end of your day.
33.) Violence is sometimes the answer, unfortunately. But never towards the innocent, or anyone that you love.
34.) Make sure that you can trust your friends. If you can't, then get new friends.
35.) Sometimes, shit happens. It's how you react to said shit that determines your character.
36.) All is fair in love and war, except playing with your lover's self-esteem, or playing head games. That's never fair.
37.) Be yourself. And never let anyone convince you that it's not good enough, and don't let someone else dictate your self-esteem or self-worth.
38.) Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
39.) Have one hobby that is not work-related.
40.) Eat when you can and pee when you can. That hostage situation isn't going to wait until you go potty or get a snack.
41.) Never close your mind to learning new things.
42.) But don't forget those things that you have learned up until now.
43.) Sometimes you have to say no to everyone else to take care of yourself, so you can take care of everyone else again later.
44.) It's okay to have a lazy day, even at work, as long as it's the exception to the rule.
45.) It's okay to have regrets. But then, accept what has been and what is, and move on.
46.) Don't look down, don't look back. You don't have to move straight, but you should always move forward.
47.) Work hard, then play just as hard, or harder.
48.) A good plan, executed now, is better than a perfect plan that never gets executed. (Paraphrased from Gen. George S. Patton)
49.) Don't ever, EVER, give up. That final smack of the rock against the mountain lion's head may be the one that is needed to make him let go, and go find an easier meal to screw with.
50.) Just remember, "Cause of Death" is a line that has to be filled in somehow on that form. So live your life to the fullest, each and every day.
