I've learned a few practical things that have stood me in good stead:

1) when you have a splinter in your finger, soak that finger in a warm saline solution. Osmosis will do the rest.

2) Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November/All the rest have thirty-one/Except February/Which has twenty-eight or sometimes twenty-nine.

3) Even if, or possibly especially if, you do not believe in God, make sure you pray to Him at take-off, at landing, and during times of turbulence.

Nothing else has stood the test of time as well as these three rules to live by.  

If I learn anything as valuable in the future, I'll be sure to let you know.