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24 lessons on life, love, and choosing what matters most

Or, some learnings I hope to always carry with me as 2024 is officially a wrap

Michael Thompson
SIMPLE

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“Most people spend the first half of their lives collecting and the second half determining what to keep. Now that you’re closing in on the top of the hill, which lessons learned and pieces of advice do you plan to always carry with you?”

A friend asked me this question on my 38th birthday. I didn’t have a good answer. Looking back, that played a key role in why I decided to write as realizing I was still lost after 13,879 days of walking didn’t feel good.

Eight years have passed since that conversation. High school and college. Since that time, I’ve published 300+ articles, many of which are rooted in weeding out what matters from what doesn’t.

It’s helped.

Here are 24 lessons that the world — and the good people I’m lucky to have along with me for the ride — have taught me that I plan to always carry with me.

1. The importance of play increases with age

“You don’t burn out from working too much. You burn out from worrying too much.” My friend Jeanette said that. It hit me hard.

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