This eBook was Published by
Abbott ePublishing
Manchester, New Hampshire
The Buck-Fifty Kick in the Butt, 50 Life Lessons We Forgot Along the Way by Stephen Abbott © 2010 Abbott ePublishing. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
The purchaser of this eBook may not resell it or redistribute it, but may read it for personal use and store it on electronic devices for that purpose alone.
INTRODUCTION
“All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” - Walt Disney
“Like a kick in the butt, the force of events wakes slumberous talents.” - Edward Hoagland, writer, essayist
“My idea of rebooting is kicking somebody in the butt twice.” - Maxine, cartoon character
Often, life can seem like it’s kicking you in the butt all the time. Whether it’s financial trouble, dissatisfaction at work, or a struggle with personal demons, it’s easy to throw up our hands and say “Why Me?”
It’s easy, but it’s wrong. There are simple life lessons that, when applied to our lives, make things run smoother, and enable us to withstand life’s “kicks.”
And ironically, kicking OURSELVES in the butt can often be the first step towards getting the world’s problems off our backs.
This eBook is for those who are in search of “common” knowledge that can often bring them uncommon success. This eBook has knowledge that has been learned through many centuries, and is often forgotten. It applies this knowledge to today’s modern life. Once you possess it, you will have a set of principles and guideposts that few other people have ever learned. That will give you an edge, and allow you to survive and thrive.
Be warned: this book’s 50 life lessons are meant to be a swift kick in the butt, and they are. But since YOU had the courage and determination to buy this eBook, you can definitely handle it.
Read each one of these fifty chapters carefully. They are short, but profound. Think about and internalize each message, considering its relevance to YOUR life, and how each can improve it. Then implement each one in your lives. Good luck!
Stop whining
Nobody likes to hear a whiner. Nobody. Whining is annoying. It’s uncomfortable to hear, and most importantly, it’s not an effective way to solve whatever problem you’re whining about. And unless you’re the young, gold-digging wife of an elderly millionaire, It’s unlikely to work more than once. There are more effective ways of conveying discomfort or changing the situation you’re in than whining. Try talking, communicating, suggesting, and trying to fix the problem in your head, then expressing solutions clearly to others, being careful not to simply react to previous bad solutions.
Stop relying on others
When people see you coming, do they turn away, or even run away? It could be because you’re so dependent on other people for all your needs. Nobody wants to be friends with a leech - a person who relies on everyone else to buy them lunch, take them to work, loan them clothes, cash or whatever else you can’t do for yourself. Try doing things for yourself. It’s empowering.
Eat less fatty foods
Want a surefire way to lose weight? Forget the fad diets in those endless diet books that horrid “O” woman is pushing. Forget the ridiculous pills, supplements or special meals they show on TV. Just put down the French fries, put down the shakes, put down the greasy burgers, and slowly step away from the table. Fatty foods make you fat. They’re filled with fillers and clogged with preservatives. Eat less of them, and you will be well on your way towards losing excess weight. (Can it BE that simple? Yup.)
Walk, for a change
This may come as a shock, but walking helps you lose weight, is good for your heart, and can improve your quality of life. The lack of walking (and other basic exercise) is probably the biggest reason why people have such fat butts and cottage-cheese thighs. If we’d just walk around the block once in a while, the pounds would melt off, and we’d actually get to see more of nature and our surroundings.
Get a job you will actually enjoy
Ever wonder why you can’t get out of bed and get to work on time? Could it be because you hate your job? Where we work and what we do there has a profound effect on how we see ourselves and relate to others. No one is happy in a bad job or a dead-end job or a job in which we don’t derive any enjoyment or satisfaction. Sometimes, we take crap jobs to get by for a while, and that’s fine, and even honorable. But don’t make a career out of it. Getting a better job can be the key to getting a better life.
Think of others’ needs FIRST
It’s fine to think about yourself now and again. Nice grooming, personal hygiene and attention to one’s own needs is important, for sure. But it’s just as important to pay attention to others’ needs. Selfishness is not an attractive trait, regardless of what you’ve heard. Offering to help other people around you, and offering to listen to what OTHER people are dealing with in their lives, can enrich others’ lives, but also your own. Try it and see.