Underrated life advice: Make yourself easy to root for. Be kind. Be reliable. Celebrate other people’s wins. Work hard without complaining. Carry good energy into rooms. You'll be shocked by how many doors open for you by making life better for others.
Go to church tonight.
Even if you don’t regularly attend. Even if you’re not religious, and Christmas represents a holiday for family and presents, not faith. Just trust me and go to church tonight.
There’s so little in our society that’s sacred and beautiful. We have so few opportunities to experience something that feels profound or transcendent, or even just… not commercialized and not engineered to generate social media engagement.
Church on Christmas Eve is one of those rare things.
Do yourself a favor and let yourself experience that today. Put your phone on “do not disturb” and go listen to the most wonderful story in human history, of an infant savior born to a young virgin in a manger, who would be revered by shepherds and magi alike. Forget about the stress of last-minute shopping or getting your home ready to host in-laws and spend an hour singing timeless Christmas hymns. Light a candle and sing Silent Night before stepping outside into the quiet, dark winter evening.
I promise you, the world into which you step back out will feel like a more serene and profound place. You will be able to enjoy the excitement and merriment of Christmas Day tomorrow all the more. And you may even feel closer to the God for whom this holiday exists.
May God bless you and yours this holiday season. I love you all, and I hope all of you and your families have a merry and joyful Christmas.
This has been my favorite for as long as I can remember, and still I just learned something new. When Linus recites Luke: 8-14, it’s the one time he isn’t holding his security blanket. Because in that moment, he doesn’t need it.
I grew up in a Texas town of 400 people.
Was lucky enough (I thought, at the time) to go to Choate.
Read Liar's Poker in high school.
Wanted to work on Wall Street, specifically on the bond desk at Salomon Brothers.
Accomplished that.
Worked in New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Chased the definition of success that was sold to me.
It took me 20+ years to realize that I had it all along.