I wouldn’t dare defile Douglas Adam’s memory by not mentioning that you should keep a towel with you at all times, but my second contender is a surprisingly short three-parter:
- never lie.
- never tell the whole truth.
- never pass up a chance to use a real bathroom.
Learn to recognize when you’re responding defensively to a statement made by those around you.
Think about it for a few days, once you’re over the initial emotional reaction. Be critical of your own response and contemplate the motivation for the statement
That’s when you have the greatest opportunity to grow as a person and build deeper relationships. It’s also when you have an opportunity to break your mindset and get out of malicious ones.