1. Buy a bicycle.

2. Fall in love. Nothing disciplines the body quite like wanting to be attractive to someone.

3. Stay slim. As we age, we face an unavoidable choice: the face or the body. Keeping the body in shape is possible; preserving the face is much harder—at least without cosmetic procedures or plastic surgery.

4. Don’t eat after seven in the evening.

5. Don’t be envious.

6. Sleep at least eight hours a night (except in the circumstances mentioned in point 13).

7. Spend money easily and cheerfully. Hoarding savings is as much a sign of old age as hair growing in your ears.

8. Take vacations. At least twice a year.

9. Stay curious. A person who is interested only in themselves will soon have nothing to talk about except their illnesses.

10. Learn to take joy in simple things—a beautiful day, blooming lilacs, or the song of a nightingale.

11. Don’t confuse luxury or comfort with happiness.

12. Never say, “I’m afraid.”

13. If you have a chance to travel through the night, go. Better to sleep through work than sleep through life.

14. Be generous.

15. Don’t believe in conspiracy theories. They’re usually wrong.

16. Be spontaneous. Don’t overthink, overanalyze, or endlessly reflect. Act. As Napoleon supposedly said, “First engage in the battle, then we’ll see what happens.” True, he did not end well—no one disputes that. But what a vivid life he lived!

17. Be like the birds: live for today—not yesterday, and not tomorrow.

18. Stand up straight. Don’t slouch.

19. Don’t try to look younger—you’ll only look ridiculous. Aim to look good for your age.

20. Don’t complain about life. In fact, don’t complain at all.

©where wonder lives beyond Wi-Fi