GistoLife is Short
- Life is short, not just finite
- Only 52 weekends with a 2-year-old
- Prune bullshit, don't wait, savor
Life is short, and it takes us by surprise
Having kids showed me that time is discrete, not continuous. You only get 52 weekends with a 2-year-old and only 8 Christmases of magic. That's not a lot.
Eliminate bullshit ruthlessly
Bullshit is the junk food of experience: unnecessary meetings, pointless disputes, bureaucracy, and addictive but unrewarding pastimes. Some is forced on you, but you can choose to avoid it by prioritizing bullshit avoidance over money and prestige.
Don't defend yourself online
Arguing online is an addictive trap. Your instinct to defend yourself when attacked is outdated. Counterintuitively, it's better most of the time not to defend yourself, because otherwise these people are literally taking your life.
Actively seek what matters
Ask yourself if you'll care about something in the future. Fake stuff has a sharp peak of seeming to matter but a small area under the curve. Having coffee with a friend matters; you won't feel later that it was a waste of time.
Prune, don't wait, and savor
Relentlessly prune bullshit, don't wait to do things that matter (climb that mountain, write that book, visit your mother), and savor the time you have. Kids help you notice perfect moments.
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