What Not to Do if You Want to Be Happy
- Do not move out of home and become so absorbed in maintaining a troubled relationship that you alienate yourself from a large proportion of your friends. You might need these friends in the future when your entire life turns to shit.
- Do not rely solely on friendships, which while extremely important and worthwhile at the time, can be lost in the blink of an eye as a result of external forces. For example:
- Do not form extremely important friendships with the siblings of your soon-t0-be-ex because no matter how close you are, when you break up with him everything will change and you will miss them very, very much.
- Do not form extremely important relationships with people who happen to be married. Do not look for father figures in people who aren't you father. Do not rely on these people as mentors, confidants, or valuable sources of support. You never know if/when they will have to cease all contact with you. It may be a few days after you break up with your partner of 4 years and really, really need their help.
- Do not become extremely attached to your future-ex-partner's family. You will find that when you can't see them any more (although anatomically impossible) it literally feels like your heart is being trodden on every time you think about them.
- Do not distract yourself from grief by getting drunk and partying as much as possible. When your immune system fails and you get glandular fever you will really regret it.
- Do not get glandular fever when you have no money saved and have to move home to your parents because you can't work to pay your bills.
- Do not move home to your lonely mother who craves your attention and time to the extent that you feel guilty for enjoying what little social life you still have.
