1. My Last Lecture Life’s Decisions
Raymond Klefstad, Ph.D.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Don’t kill yourself Either on purpose Or accidentally
Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Don't have children with the wrong person
You are tied to them for at least 18 years
Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Marry a person with good character
then treat them well
Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

19. 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.

20. Learn how to maintain yourself
What you are doing now affects your future health
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
Learn the value of exercise
Do some exercise every day
Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

21. 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.

22. Bad Character Traits Liar User Lazy Cheat Selfish Conniving
Manipulative
Thief (steals)‏
Disobeys rules or laws
Blaming others for own actions
Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.

23. Make Good Decision! 
Ray Klefstad, Ph.D.