Rules of life

Disclaimer : These are the few of the rules I myself try to follow. I learned them from experiences, readings, and people. They may be right, may be wrong. They may be right for one person, but wrong for another. Life is not simple enough to be bound by rules. And hence, the most important and 0-th rule is "There are no fixed rules".

1. There are 3 types of lies- white, grey and black. White lies are not harmful. In fact, they are sometimes good. Black lies are harmful and malacious. Grey lies are something in between, not spoken with bad intent, but goes wrong somewhere and ends up hurting someone. White lies are the most favourable ones, if you must lie. But before you decide to use a white lie, stop and think for a second....can this become a grey one someway? Stay away from black ones, they always...always comes back at you.
2. Don't hurt people. Neither physically, nor mentally (mental scars are sometimes more deadly than physical ones). Hurting seldom works.
3. Do not expect people to treat you any differently than the way you treat them. What you give is what you get. So, if you badmouth someone behind his/her back, it's highly possible that he/she does the same about you.
4. Two rules will get you far in your job - 1. Make your boss's life easier. 2. Make sure you're visible to your Boss's Boss. (thanks to my brother for this tip)
5. Whenever you meet someone, try to give them something....try to make sure they need something from you (a book, a favour, anything). They'll remember you. (thanks to my brother again)
6. "Prepare for the worst, hope for the best".
7. Don't lose your cool, stay calm. Obvious solutions are missed when one is agitated.
8. Don't let others decide your life. Its your life, learn to control it and take decisions yourself. Even if they don't work out...at least it'll not be because of someone else.
9. Don't get yourself down too much if you encounter failure. Failure is part of life. You failed...so what? Everyone does. Get over it.
10. Listen to your parents. They're right most of the times (but rule 8 overrides this rule in case of contradictions). Even if you feel they are not right....take some time out and think it over, make sure you're sure they're wrong.
11. Friends are treasures of life. Don't lose one. Keep in touch even if you're busy.
12. Learn to say 'thank you'. There are countless of things in life to be thankful for, and countless of things to be dissatisfied with. Since you never shy away from voicing your dissatisfactions, its only fair that you sometimes also appreciate the goods.
13. I doesn't matter whether you believe in God or not, do not ever hurt others religious belief. If you have the right to believe/disbelieve God, the others has an equal right to disbelieve/believe God. Theres no proof supporting either.
14. When times are tough and things seem to be getting nowhere...just hang on. Every night ends.
15. One learns from books, from school. But one learns most by looking back at his own life. Take some time off every day/week from your schedule, when you just sit back and look back.