“We are dealing with the best-educated generation in history. But they’ve got a brain dressed up with nowhere to go.”
– Timothy Leary
1. Making eye contact.
Looking someone in the eye has become a lost art. When people walk by on another they look down. At dinner they stare at their phones. Learn how to make eye contact. It takes very little effort and will garner respect.
2. Developing a firm handshake.
During freshman year of high school, my gym teacher yelled at me for having a terribly flimsy handshake. Since then I’ve made sure to implement a better grip. Now I actually get compliments on my handshaking abilities. Unfortunately most guys did not get the same lecture I did. Almost every week I encounter a “man” whose handshake has the consistency of a wet noodle.
3. Changing a tire.
Although I live in a very self-sufficient state where everyone works on their own cars, most Americans will never be exposed to such an environment. While reading a forum, I discovered that most people my age are incapable of doing any sort of basic vehicle maintenance. The poster, who apparently owns an auto body shop in Florida, made mention that a slew of young men come in and ask him to replace their flats. For the sake of comedy he offers to let them use his tools, free of charge, to replace the tires themselves. Almost all of them decline, citing that they are unaware of how to do such a task. If you’re going to drive, you should know how to put on a spare tire, change the oil, jump start a car, and replenish washer fluid.
4. Shutting the f*ck up.
Watching the Colbert Report does not make you an expert on world politics. Changing your Facebook profile picture to an equality symbol won’t make you an activist. Unless you have an original insight, keep it to yourself.
5. Surviving in the wilderness.
Modern man is weak. He cries after forgetting to take his phone into the bathroom with him. Take a weekend and spend it camping in the woods. You don’t have to drink your own urine or wrestle a bear. Simply take a break from modern technology. Doing so will teach self-reliance.
If you have any additional recommendations, feel free to leave a comment.