One of the few things in my life that I treat in an absolute manner are my rules.

Gibbs from the TV show NCIS was the original idea behind my writing down of life rules. Indeed, I have shamelessly stolen some of his rules.

It is key to clarify that these are not rules I would ever dream of applying to others. These are created by myself (and Gibbs) and apply to myself alone.

Just like my pendant, they are a constant. One of few Life is a constant flux, and in particular the past few years have been a whirlpool of change for me. The rules have been an invaluable guide in my darkest hours.

The rules have changed too, but not much. Refined, a couple added. Twice a single one removed, each time accompanying a massive shift in my life outlook.

They are semi-private, shared with a select few. Or, I should say, were. Because I’ve decided to share them. To wear my life code like a badge, in no small part to aid me in staying true to them.

It’s why I consider them absolute. The rules can be bent, but they should not be broken. As the rules themselves reference. Any time I have broken my rules, it hasn’t worked out well for me. Once, it almost killed me.

So here is my life code. An incomplete window into my life philosophy. Refined gradually over time, but staying true at the core. Transcribed as an odd collection of wisdom splinters.

Perhaps these, as Gibbs did for me, will inspire you to write out your own previously unwritten rules. It’s a worthy exercise.

In no particular order, except for the fact rules 0-2 are considered central.

0. Question. Always.
1. Live to the benefit of others.
2. Mean what you say and say what you mean.
3. Don’t believe what you’re told. Double check. [G]
4. If you have a secret, the best thing is to keep it to yourself. The second-best is to tell one other person if you must. There is no third best. [G]
5. You don’t waste good. [G]
6. Judge people on their actions alone.
7. Always be specific when you lie [G]
8. Never take anything for granted. [G]
9. Aim for the best
10. Plan for the worst
11. You never really realise what you have, until it’s taken away.
12. Words are a weapon like any other. Use them as such.
13. [REDACTED]
14. Bend the line, don’t break it. [G]
15. You don’t need a reason to say thanks.
16. If someone thinks they have the upper hand, break it. [G]
17. There are no third chances.
18. It’s better to ask forgiveness than ask permission. [G]
19. Be ruled by head not heart.
20. You can’t make rules for the heart. Only guidelines.
21. [REDACTED]
22. Practice may not actually make perfect, but it certainly bloody helps!
23. Look to the future, but not too far.
24. Hope is the one thing this bastard universe cannot take from you.
25. You gotta take the bad with the good.
26. Both bad and good are finite.
27. Sometimes preparation is as good as seeing the future
28. If you need help, ask! [G]
29. Live in the present. The past is past, the future is uncertain, but the now is yours to shape.
30. Today you…tomorrow me.
31. Life’s too short to live in fear.
32. Never say never
33. Information is power.
34. Always expect the unexpected.
35. Be unpredictable.
36. If it feels like you’re being played, you probably are. [G]
37. Sometimes, you have to allow yourself to be weak in order to grow stronger
38. Philosophising never actually helped anybody.
39. There is no such thing as coincidence. [G]
40. Never leave a debt unpaid.
41. A man’s honour is his life.
42. Don’t ever accept an apology from someone that just sucker-punched you. [G]
43. Never make a promise you can’t (don’t) keep.
44. Sometimes…less is more. Or says more.
45. Clean up your messes. [G]
46. Just because things are, doesn’t mean they ought to be so.
47. Don’t ask why. Ask why not.
48. Life ain’t. fair. Don’t settle for the hand you’re dealt. When you can, stack the deck.
49. [MERGED]
50. Would it help?
51. Sometimes - you’re wrong [G]
52. Nothing comes free. Not all cost is financial.
53. Hold lightly, do not strangle
54. If something is worth doing, it’s worth overdoing. Interesting that throughout all the tumultuous change of what I suppose are my ‘formative years’ these rules ring as true for me as they always did. Here’s to being better at following them.

Until tommorow, there you have it.

Thought for the day: Robert Frost — I took the [road] less traveled by, and that has made all the difference