I wanted to do a post to celebrate my 75th birthday, which was yesterday. My first thought was to write one of those letters to my younger self. Then I realized that my younger self wouldn’t take my advice.

When I was twenty-five, I was certain I knew it all. Fifty years on I’m keenly aware of how much I don’t know and won’t have time to learn. But I think I’ve learned some important lessons.

One of the most important lessons is this. The quality of your life develops from the countless little things you do every day. Your life turns out to be the weaving together of the little things you do over and over and over.

That’s the spirit of the following suggestions. They aren’t “according to science” or any such nonsense. They’re my observations from my life about how to life a good life by paying attention to what you do every day. So, every day …

Do something nice for someone else.

Do someone a favor. Compliment them. Surprise them with a phone call. Write a thank-you note.

My mother wrote three thank-you notes every day of her adult life. In a time when so much is digital and ephemeral, a handwritten note is soul-warming.

Do something for yourself.

Do something to refresh your body, mind, and spirit and keep them supple. Exercise, read a good book, pray, meditate. Be sure to get enough sleep. It’s the high leverage activity that boosts performance at other things.

Laugh.

My father died in 2004, at 88. When I spoke to a packed church at his memorial service, I asked people to raise their hand if they ever heard my father laugh. Hands went up all over. Some people put both and hands in the air. Laughter is a wonderful legacy.

If sleep is the magic that helps you do more, laughter is the salve that makes the bruises of life hurt less. It comes easier when you’re with people you love.

Spend some time with people who build you up.

People will boost you so you can go higher. They’ll catch you when you stumble and help you up when you fall.

My wife has several friends she’s known since elementary school. She met one of them at the other girl’s second birthday party. You may not be able to have longtime friends like that, but you can develop strong relationships with other people. They will make your life rich.

Takeaways

The quality of your life develops from the countless little things you do every day.

Do something nice for someone else every day.

Do something for your body, mind, and spirit every day.

Sleep is the high leverage activity that boosts performance at other things.

Laugh every day. Laughter is the salve that makes the bruises of life hurt less.

Spend some time with people who build you up.