While copying a huge epistolary novel that Trav left me custodian of, I came across the following "Wisdom of the Ages (c)" that he wrote at age 24.

Best to all,
Bill Edmundson

Trav's answers for survival and making it

1. Don't take things too seriously. You'll get ulcers and worry and your fingernails will change color. Especially don't take yourself too seriously.

2. Find out who you are. Don't ask your friends. Don't ask your parents. Don't ask a psychiatrist (mostly they need your money to buy whips for their own fantasies.)

3. Entertain doubts about everything. Accept nothing on Authority.

4. Keep a journal or diary, not necessarily from day to day, or even week to week, but periodic. Refer to it from year to year to see who you were/are. Laugh at it a lot and invite others to share in it. If you can manage it, have pictures in it, of yourself and others. Make it a document to show your great grandchildren. Impress posterity with how cool you were. It worked for S. Pepys.

5. Keep testing your body and your mind. One can never tell when they might come in useful, either together or one at a time. Exercise and think. Don't simply think about exercising or you'll get fat.

6. Read good books. Read bad books. Read the Bible and then read pornography. Attempt both styles in your writings. Don't use the names of friends in either.

7. Learn about a diversity of things, things you aren't even interested in. Use it in conversations. Practice your knowledge and use it to get more. A little learning is a dangerous thing, because it satisfies nobody but you. Other people will find you fascinating if you have encyclopaedic knowledge, and it can lead to the damnedest things, even (sometimes) to a bit of wisdom, which is a rare thing to have.

8. Know that things are disposable; people aren't. If you have a friend, treasure that friend. This brings us to a discussion of friends, which is covered in #9.

9. Examine your friends. Talk to them. Help them. Don't get ripped off by emotions, but then, don't let emotions keep you from getting involved. Find out the difference between a real and a false (that is: an acquaintance) friend who may want you around for something other than the You of you.

10. Try to avoid forming Ultimate Opinions. Nothing is so boring as a person who is aging everywhere but inside his head.

11. Accept life for what it is: a fantastic tapestry of experience, a painting on a grand scale, a movie starring yourself. Understand that there can be pleasure and joy in everything. Like Nietzsche said, "I cannot count the nights that thoughts of suicide have gotten me through." It isn't over until the last reel, and even then you can't be too sure, even though it looks like the end. Remember Goldfinger that looked like it was ending and then it didn't and...well, it just got better and kept going. The main thing I'm trying to say here, even though it's taking me a long time to say it: don't leave the ball park or the theater or the church or the SUB or whatever until the curtain. Life has a habit of providing an extra inning.

11. Arrange your charities through magic. Leave a quarter on a playground where a kid can find it.

12. Don't be afraid to turn people on to things. If you know there's going to be a rainbow or a great sunrise or a meteor shower. And don't be afraid to go with somebody if they suggest it. Enjoy the quiet of dawn or the sparkle of a God-provided fireworks display.

13. Keep a faith in magic. Provide it for the heathens. (Refer to #11 and expand on it.)

14. Accept advice with an open mind. If it is free, it's good. If it costs anything, it's degree of goodness is decreased. Consider the usefulness of the advice and if you can use it, give it a try, but avoid causing hurt to others. The Golden Rule and all that.

15.Ask questions about everything. Work towards understanding the people around you, and help them when they're hurt or confused. Be Christlike, but don't try to impress your religion on others. Your gods may not run on their batteries. Help the folk, and the folk will help you. Sometimes.