What I've Learned

There is a column in Esquire Magazine called "What I've Learned" where a different celebrity pontificates about life's different lessons and their philosophies on living. I love that column so, I've decided from time to time to do a blog post on my random life lessons. This will run like my "Weekend Update" and my "Saturday Seven" posts.


1. There will be people who hate everything you say or do, regardless, just because you're saying it or doing it. Somebody else can do or say the same thing and it will be alright with these people. You can't waste too much time caring about what these people think. They're called "Haters " for a reason.

2. I've always liked to work, regardless of what it is I am doing. I like the idea of having somewhere to go, something to do, and the interaction with other people. Work always keeps me straight. The few times I was unemployed and idle were the times when I'd go and do something stupid.

3. Barack Obama... the idea of him was not even conceivable to my mother's generation and until this year he was not conceivable to my generation either.

4. I try really hard to entertain people on both of my blogs but most of the time, I realize that I'm just entertaining myself.

5. My Mom had this thing about wearing clean underwear. She always said, "You might get in an accident and have to go to the hospital so, you want to have clean underwear on. I would always say, "Mom, if I'm in an accident, what is the first thing you think is gonna get soiled?"

6. I'd meet a girl and say something totally crazy... it would get me over, it would work, and I'd be amazed. When I handed them a practiced line, it never seemed to work so, I realized that whatever crazy thing it was that I said was genuinely me. Genuinely me always seemed to work better and that went a long way to boosting my self-esteem.

7. The best thing about being over 40 is I've become comfortable in my own skin and more accepting and forgiving of myself. At this rate, I'm gonna be something else when I'm an old man!

8. I think the coolest thing in the world is waking up, going to the computer, and just writing. It's when I feel the most alive.

9. Writing has made me appreciate reading more.

10. I was a GDI for two years of my college career. I laughed at guys who were pledging and I said, "Man this is stupid. You'll never see me out there making a fool out of myself." Then, I saw how all of the girls were going for the guys in the frats so, I changed my mind. Then, I said... "If these guys can make it and I'm tougher and smarter than they are, I know I can do it." So, just like that, I wound up pledging a frat and making it. I was always a little arrogant and cocky as a young man, maybe too much for my own good. Just goes to show, you should never say never.

11. When I was in the Air Force, this white guy used to stand outside of the barracks I was living in and play his guitar most of the night. One night I asked him why he was so happy all the damn time and he told me something that made a lot of sense. He said, "Everyday you're above the ground breathing in and breathing out is a day to celebrate, no matter what happened during the day." Great saying. I never forgot it. I live by that to this day.

12. Sometimes in relationships between men and women, we think and analyze too much. As somebody once said, "We've come this far... let's not ruin everything by thinking."