Thanks, Udhay, for the forward of Barlow's really thought-provoking list. I think I'm going to save it and work on it.... I particularly like "understand humility". That IS such a difficult thing to internalize! Mostly, human being are driven by the need to feel superior to others in some way: breeding,looks, money,intelligence....
Deepa. On 10/4/07, Udhay Shankar N <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > One of the first people I ever sent email to, JPB turned 60 > yesterday. The below is part of a birthday message he sent out, that > I thought I'd share. > > Udhay > > >FINALLY, A LITTLE GIFT FOR US ALL... > > > >I didn't think I would live to 30 either. I was shocked, shocked I > >tell you, to find myself on the eve of my 30th birthday, weirdly > >alive. In this, I was quite out of step with most of my friends to > >that point, more than half of whom were already back in the sweet > >realm of infinity and love. Chickenshits. If you're going to > >volunteer in the first place, go right into the Special Forces. > > > >In any event, it occurred to me that, past 30, I could no longer > >defend my peccadillos on basis of youth. I would have to acquire some > >minimal sense of responsibility. While I didn't want to be a > >grown-up, I wanted at least to act like one in the less toxic and > >stultifying sense of the term. > > > >So, I sat down around 2 am on October 3, 1977 and I drew up this list > >of behavioral goals that I hoped might assist in this process. Now, > >thirty years later, I can claim some mixed success. Where I've > >failed, I'm still working on it. I give these to you so that you can > >provide me with encouragement in becoming the person I want to be. > >And maybe, though they are very personally targeted, they may even be > >of some little guidance to you. > > > >Anyway, this is what I wrote that night: > > > > > >PRINCIPLES OF ADULT BEHAVIOR > > > >1. Be patient. No matter what. > >2. Don't badmouth: > > Assign responsibility, never blame. > > Say nothing behind another's back you'd be unwilling to say, > >in exactly the same tone and language, to his face. > >3. Never assume the motives of others are, to them, less noble > >than yours are to you. > >4. Expand your sense of the possible. > >5. Don't trouble yourself with matters you truly cannot change. > >6. Expect no more of anyone than you yourself can deliver. > >7. Tolerate ambiguity. > >8. Laugh at yourself frequently. > >9. Concern yourself with what is right rather than whom is right. > >10. Never forget that, no matter how certain, you might be wrong. > >11. Give up blood sports. > >12. Remember that your life belongs to others as well. Do not > >endanger it frivolously. And never endanger the life of another. > >13. Never lie to anyone for any reason. > >14. Learn the needs of those around you and respect them. > >15. Avoid the pursuit of happiness. Seek to define your mission > >and pursue that. > >16. Reduce your use of the first personal pronoun. > >17. Praise at least as often as you disparage. > >18. Never let your errors pass without admission. > >19. Become less suspicious of joy. > >20. Understand humility. > >21 Forgive. > >22. Foster dignity. > >23. Live memorably. > >24. Love yourself. > >25. Endure. > > > >I don't expect the perfect attainment of these principles. However, > >I post them as a standard for my conduct as an adult. Should any of > >my friends or colleagues catch me violating any one of them, bust me. > > > > John > >Perry Barlow > > > >October 3, 1977 > > > > > >Hold me to these please. > > > >And thank you so much for all the love you've given me, despite all > >of my efforts to resist it. > > > >May the Good Light shine on you, > > > >The Ancient Barlow > > > >-- > >************************************************************** > >John Perry Barlow, Peripheral Visionary > >Co-Founder & Vice Chairman, Electronic Frontier Foundation > >Berkman Fellow, Harvard Law School > > > >Home(stead) Page: http://www.eff.org/~barlow > > -- > ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com)) > > >
