Code to Live By

Lately I've become a huge fan of the show NCIS. It's been around for a while but I am just getting into it. I can probably blame Kristy for that.

Anyway, there have been some odd results from it. The first being my new love for the name Jethro. The main character is named Leroy Jethro Gibbs. He's awesome and I always have loved unusual names. The second being I'm constantly in debate whether I like the charming film buff Tony more or the cute sweet computer geek McGee. But the most interesting result from watching this show has been my desire to create a set of rules to live by.

The main character, Gibbs, has this set of rules that guide the way he lives his life. If you watch the show, you learn the rules. There is also an episode that explains where he got the idea of rules from. When Jethro was a young Marine, he was waiting at the train station in his home town. He met a girl named Shannon. Their conversation is as follows:

Gibbs: Are you waiting for the train, too? [she nods] We could sit together.
Shannon: I don't know. It's a long ride, but I guess you're not a lumberjack.
Gibbs: No.
Shannon: I have a rule. It's either rule number one or number three: never date a lumberjack.
Gibbs: You got a rule for everything?
Shannon: I'm working on it. Everyone needs a code they can live by. What's your name?
Gibbs: Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Shannon: I'm just gonna call you Gibbs.
Gibbs: You can call me anything you want.
Shannon: I'm Shannon.

Gibbs and Shannon end up getting married and have a daughter named Kelly. Both Shannon and Kelly end up getting murdered. Shannon witnessed a murder and testified against the guy. They were placed in Witness Protection, but ended up getting gunned down by a sniper and exploding in their car. Gibbs was deployed while all of this was going on. Gibbs still lives by his rules and his team learns the rules as they go along. Abby and Tony seem to know the most, Tony because he looks up to his boss so much and Abby because Gibbs has always treated her like a daughter.

Watching this show and listening to all the talk about these rules has led me to create my own set of rules to live by. Gibbs has something like 51 rules. I only have 33 but it's a start.

1. Don't do anything stupid.
2. Don't be a douchebag or a bitch.
3. Keep your promises.
4. Never restrict your idea of family to just those related to you.
5. Tip generously.
6. Never miss a good opportunity to shut up.
7. Never apologize for things that aren't your fault or if you're not sorry.
8. Don't lie.
9. Forgive your enemies but never forget their names.
10. Never suppress or deny any emotion you feel, regardless if it's good or bad. Embrace it, feel it, and let it go when you're ready.
11. Friends are one of life's greatest gifts. Never give them out without a fight.
12. Never be afraid to try something new.
13. Whenever you have change, buy lemonade from kids on the side of the road.
14. If you don't stick to your values when they're being tested, they're not values--they're hobbies.
15. Ask questions. It doesn't matter how random. Just ask.
16. After you reach 21, no one can tell you what to do.
17. Know who you can trust.
18. Life is shitty enough on its own. Don't make it harder for anyone else.
19. Sometimes you either have to laugh about it or cry about it. Try to laugh as often as possible.
20. Wearing heels is never necessary.
21. Trust your gut.
22. Never buy a new car off the lot.
23. Everyone in your life will leave you. It's okay.
24. Love is NOT all you need.
25. You don't watch movies alone.
26. Don't talk during the movie. Whether at a movie theater or at home, it doesn't matter. Do Not Talk.
27. You don't censor art such as movies, music, literature or fine art. If it offends you, don't participate in experiencing it.
28. Never allow anyone to convince you that you don't deserve what you want.
29. Life is too short to watch crappy movies.
30. If you're going to laugh, laugh like hell. And if you're going to get angry, get good and angry. There is not point in living life half assed.
31. There are worse things than spending a night alone.
32. There's more to life than underwear.
33. Don't let the bastards win.

There will be more as my life continues. I'll post them as they come.

Love you.
Mean it.