delara, interrupted

Ok, Kari. I finally did it. Thank you for the tag! It led to quality reflection. I have reworded some of the tag rules to suit some personal preferences of language.

The rule of this tag is to list 6 actions or achievements I think every person needs to accomplish before turning 18. There are no conditions on what can be included on the list. At the end of my post, I am to choose 6 people to get tagged and list their names. People who are tagged write their own blog entry with their 6 suggestions. I need to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, which is pretty smart.

So, here:

1. Conduct a thorough, personal, spiritual search, and choose to make a commitment to a spiritual belief system that will inform and shape your decisions about your life, its purpose and the people who walk your journey with you.

2. Connect with (and practice daily) a physical activity that generates energy, peace of mind, fitness and joy.

3. Learn how to become very comfortable expressing a wide range of human emotion and thought through verbal and written communication. Particularly, learn how to sincerely say, "I love you," "I am sorry," "I need help," and, "I feel angry." And practice the art of handwriting letters to people you love.

4. Become an educated consumer and environmental steward. Be informed about what you purchase and from where/whom. Avoid advertising and marketing. Be considerate and moderate in evaluating what you NEED in life. Reduce your consumption AND your waste and recycle everything you can. Be aware of the space you occupy and the impact you have on people and the world.

5. Be of service to your community and the people in it. Specifically, spend time with people who are different than you and learn about how their experiences in life have shaped who they are. Be of service to the elderly, the poor, children, your neighbors, under-educated or illiterate folks, and people with cognitive or social deficits/disorders.

6. Learn how to manage your money and be responsible for your financial health. Open a savings account and develop the habit of "paying yourself first" each month. Learn how to balance your checkbook. When you apply for that first credit card, do your homework and make smart choices. Find out how to get your free credit report every year and read through it with a detailed eye.

And I'm adding a seventh. Because I can.

7. Read everything you can get your hands on from many different genres--from picture storybooks to 19th century poetry to science fiction. Visit the library often. Develop skill in critical evaluation. Learn how to differentiate between opinion and fact, biased editorializing and objective accounting or reporting. Read books and articles that challenge you to expand your world a little bit more each time.

Go: Andrew, Jeff, Steve, Shokufeh, Mojan, Lacey.