My Last Lecture

Life’s Decisions

Raymond Klefstad, Ph.D.

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Your Life’s Path• When you're young, it is easy to float

through life like a butterfly on the wind

• Many decisions you must make may seem relatively unimportant

• Looking back from here, simple decisions have dramatic consequences

• Your decisions guide your life like a tiny rudder guides a huge ship

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Life-changing Decisions

• There are things in life we have no control over, such as• Getting cancer prematurely

• But all these decisions are the result of conscious choices made by each of us

• Each has very far reaching effects

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

When making any decision remember two things:

• Don't screw up your life.

• Do things that improve yourself or your life.

• These are in order of importance

• Like the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

How to not screw up your life

• These decisions made my list because recovering from them is very difficult and costly if possible

• Even if you are able to recover, there are always serious scars you must live with afterwards

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Don’t kill yourself

• Either on purpose

• Or accidentally

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Never do drugs

• The choice to abuse drugs or alcohol has ruined more lives than anything else I can think of

• I bet everyone who ruined their life from drugs thought at one point, “I will not be one of those who lets them ruin my life”

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Never commit any felonies

• Prison is no way to spend a big chunk of your only life

• No amount of money is worth that sacrifice

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Don't have children with the wrong person

• You are tied to them for at least 18 years

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Don't marry the wrong person• Don’t even live with one…

• You will be miserable while you're with them for possibly a long time

• Divorce is financially and emotionally devastating, usually dooming you to financial ruin

• The lawyers get rich, while you and your children suffer

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Never smoke• Easy to start, hard to quit• It ruins your health• Many years of suffering• Makes you look much older • Visit any hospital and you will see for yourself• Smoking has no benefit to you and can only

do serious harm• Be careful about getting too much sun too

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

How to do things that improve yourself or your life

• You have probably heard all of these and you will hear them again

• That is because they really do add value to your life experience

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Choose good friends and be a good friend to them

• What is a good friend?• Someone with good character (see below)• Who encourages you to be a better person• Good friends don't drag you down to a

lower level

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Complete higher education• Remember, you are not paying for a

degree, but a chance to educate yourself

• Get the most out of your educational opportunity by learning as much as you can in each course

• You are investing a lot of time and money for the chance at a great education

• Why not find a major that leads to a good career?

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Get a good job

• Ideally, it should pay well

• But doing a job you enjoy is worth more than lots of money

• Be willing to change if you are miserable in your job

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Live in a safe neighborhood• It is no fun having your stuff stolen

• Or worrying about getting jumped

• Or barking dogs, …

• A small house in a safe neighborhood• Is better than a big house in a bad

one

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Learn to manage your money

• Start saving when you are young

• You will be amazed how compounded investments grow!

• Avoid getting into debt, except to• get an education or to buy a house

• You will be amazed how buying your first new car on credit dooms you to a life of slavery to pay for that car

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Marry a person with good character

• then treat them well

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Love others• Love yourself, your family, and your friends

• Love is the conscious willingness to extend yourself for a person's welfare• Wisdom is required to know what is best

for a person

• Being "in love" is different• It is a feeling, a wonderful feeling• but it does not last

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Learn how to maintain yourselfWhat you are doing now affects your future health

1. Learn how to cook and to eat for good health• Processed junk food will quickly make you

obese• which has been shown to cause disease and

to shorten your life

2. Learn the value of exercise• Do some exercise every day

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Good Character Traits• Faithful• Diligent• Reliable• Charitable• Trustworthy• Quick to apologize• Confident & Secure• Supportive of others• Considerate of others• Take responsibility for own actions

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Bad Character TraitsLiarUserLazyCheatSelfishConnivingManipulativeThief (steals)Disobeys rules or lawsBlaming others for own actions

Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

Make Good Decision!