lmc

But here is the most important part of all:

—Slow the fuck down.

This might seem counter-intuitive to living a life out of ardor, but it’s not. The glorious moments in life— the ones that you will remember, that you will write about—will pass you by if you don’t cling on to them with ferocity. Recognizing these moments and drinking them in is the best way to grab life by the throat. When life overwhelms you—because it will overwhelm you—let it overwhelm you and then take some deep breaths. When life breaks your heart—because it will break your heart—let yourself cry.

When life angers you—because it will anger you—allow yourself to feel that burn, allow your heart to pound, allow your whole body to shake, and know that the pain will soon go away. Because it will go away. The woman at work, the one who just annoyed you by doing her job and telling you what to do—well, she is like you, and she is also in pain, because she is human. Talk to her. Your father loves you, no matter what you do, so call him. Your friend is your friend, your lover is your lover, because of your flaws, not despite them, so love them, and, more importantly, let them love you. Go down to the beach and watch the sunset. Go dance, and sing, even though and especially because you suck at it. If you meet someone new and they interest you, get them to be your friend. Do something nice for someone just because you can, even if it eats into your “you” time. If you read something you like, send the writer an e-mail and tell them you like it. Go play with your dog. Lose track of time while reading a book. Do things like sit on your patio for hours with only a pack of cigarettes and your headphones, because music is one of the best ways to feel things while sitting still. And for god’s sake, don’t second guess yourself and wonder if you sound like an inspirational poster—because we all need an inspirational poster every now and then. You need to slow the fuck down and take a good look at life and the world you’re living in, because if you drive on the freeway at night and look at the lights in the right way, they will seem like stars.