Of Principles to Live By
On long weekends I tend to get a little introspective and reflective. I do a lot of reading.I’ve just finished "This is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography and Life through the Distorted Lens of Nikki Sixx". I’m the first to admit I’m an 80’s throwback, and I bought this book primarily because I quite like Motley Crüe. More importantly I love hearing the life stories of people and I was pretty sure Nikki Sixx has had a very colourful life to share.
This book surprised me. It’s a little narcissistic which is to be expected but what I did not expect were some of the gems that shone out of pages.Sixx spoke of his personal principles to live by. To me they make perfect sense and reading them and considering them have enabled me to understand a little more of what makes me tick. And what I need to work on.Here they are with Nikki’s explanations and my thoughts where necessary.1. You can always renegotiate your life.Nothing is written in stone until you die. You are allowed to change your mind. You don’t need to live where you live. You don’t need to work where you work. You don’t need to stay in a toxic relationship. You don’t need to keep up with the Joneses. You simply need to renegotiate.2. Love the ones who hurt you.Love those who hurt you the most, because they are probably the ones closest to you. They, too, are on a path and just like you they are learning to walk before they can fly. Imagine if everybody you hurt in life turned their backs on you? Love them no matter what.This one is important to me. I have been hurt and I know I have hurt others through my words and actions. Unconditional love is hard but so powerful. It is why I don’t give up on people, people I actually like, who hurt me. It is a core part of who I am.3. Be inspired by all walks of life.Read something you don’t normally read. Talk to people you don’t normally talk to. Think about words you don’t normally use. Look at art you don’t normally look at. Try to see the world outside your own head and worldview.4. Don't neglect your death.Live life to the fullest or else your death will be a waste of time. Don't waste your death on a half-assed life. Go for it. Do what you want. Not what your parents, spouse, or your friends want. Are you inspired by your life?This one is challenging to me. Am I inspired by my life?Sixx has some more which aren’t so relevant to me, but now I’m considering other Principles to live by.What Principles do you live by? What books, writers, movies do you recommend I explore?- Simon