My most personal one yet
32 life lessons and life hacks that I believe to be true
As I celebrate my 32nd birthday, it seems only appropriate to share 32 life lessons and life hacks that I believe to be true. The last point is the most important one. It’s of course up to you to decide whether this is click bait or not…
The only thing you can be certain about in life is change.
Talking of change, learn to get comfortable with it. Otherwise, life is going to be pretty hairy.
We’ve all had something tricky in our past that defines who we are today. The choice is yours: will it build you into a warrior or break you into a worrier?
I once told someone: ‘the thing is when tragedy happens, you don’t really have a choice. You have to get on with it’. They very wisely remarked that in fact I do have a choice. It’s the warrior/worrier idea again.
There will always be people who don’t like you, for what seems like no reason. Your job is not to change for the people who don’t matter. There will always be people who you don’t like either. Don’t expect them to change.
Life goes so very fast but there are small things you can do every day to slow time down: try new things, be in the moment and say ‘yes’ to the things that bring you joy.
The biggest myth, I believe, is that time heals. Somehow grief magically disappears. No, no, no. Toxic mistruth. You get more used to loss perhaps but it certainly doesn’t disappear and time is not the answer to healing.
Fundamentally, humans all want the same thing: to belong. That sense of belonging might look different from human to human but it’s still there.
You can agree to disagree and not let it be a dismissal of someone else’s opinion. You can listen to what they have to say, find something - even if only miniscule - that you believe to be true and move on; knowing that you’ve learnt something new.
Health really is wealth. Get healthy - like, proper healthy in mind, body and soul (not toxic Instagram aesthetically pleasing healthy) - and receive the gift of energy for a life you deserve to live.
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Animals are angels. End of.
I believe in God. I may well be wrong about my belief but I’d rather be wrong than not believe at all.
You will always regret wasting time scrolling mindlessly on your phone.
If you start judging others, you open yourself to be judged. If you start loving others, you open yourself to getting the same love in return.
We’re all just trying our best.
Smile at strangers. You never know how your smile might impact their day.
You will always regret wasting time worrying. Conquer worry, conquer life.
You have a calling. We all do. It might not be to save the world or to be Beyonce but there is someone who needs exactly what you do effortlessly. Make sure to do it.
Ease over effort isn’t lazy - it’s essential.
The saying ‘God laughs when we make plans’ couldn’t be truer. My life has rarely gone to plan. Put less energy on plans and learn to lean into the randomness of life.
Slow down. Quite literally, slow down. Slow your movement. Slow your thinking. Slow your doing and your being. Slow. Life is short, yes. But it’s not a race and no one ever got to the end rushing.
Always end the day with a positive thought. Even if it was a rubbish day, there’s always something to be grateful for.
Has the world got crazier? Or do we just have access to more crazy? Care about our world but remember it’s okay to keep your world small too.
The birds and flowers get on with their day without a care in the world. They know they will be cared for and get exactly what they need. Be more birds and flowers.
You’re never too old to play. Learn to play more. Life is serious enough as it is.
You can say exactly what you think and feel with respect for the other person and respect for yourself. Speaking up is not toxic. Not speaking up is more toxic.
There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.
The grass is always greener on the other side. Find the green on your own patch.
Awareness is key. Want to lose weight? Become aware of what you’re eating. Want to get your money in order? Become aware of what you’re spending.
Society will always expect you to be doing something else or to be on a different life path. If your life choices make you happy and aren't intentionally harming anyone else, you do you in all your glory.
Life can be simple. Your mind and false stories it’s feeding you is making it more complicated.
Animals are angels - especially black labradors.
Questions to ponder
Which of these life lessons resonate with you? Are there any that you simply ‘agree to disagree’ with (and that’s okay!)?
What would your own list of life lessons look like?
Are animals angels?
I definitely agree that time is not a healer. Actually, locking away grief and trauma and not dealing with it over time can make it worse because your hidden pain can lead to addictions and more trauma.
Not all adages are true - time does not heal all wounds.
"We’ve all had something tricky in our past that defines who we are today. The choice is yours: will it build you into a warrior or break you into a worrier?"
I'm always intrigued when just one letter changes the entire meaning of a word, or where two words are so similar except for just one sound.
Warrior - has the word WAR in it, and is about fighting. the triple R is like a revving engine getting you going to take action, do something, move forward, and progress.
Worrier - has the long O sound that muffles itself by the double R. In this case, the triple Rs are more of an impending drumroll, a droning sound of "something is coming for you".
Warrior is about going to get something and is ACTIVE
Worrier is about something coming to get you and PASSIVE
Language matters. do you choose to be a warrior (future forward action) or a worrier (past worries passive)?