Most people say that you learn the most about yourself when you're in your 20s. I have to disagree, maybe I'm more mature or started to live "on my own" sooner than most, but I found that these past couple years I learned a whole lot about life and myself.
Here are eight of the most important life lessons I have learned recently that I will keep with me throughout the rest of my life:
1. Everything is temporary.
This is the most terrifying yet relieving concept. Yes, it's great to think that everything is temporary when you're going through a rough patch, but it's also frightening to think of this when you're going through a great time in your life. Because everything is temporary you really need to appreciate and enjoy the good times in your life. Sometimes we take the good things in our life for granted and we don't realize how good we had it until it's gone. We must count our blessings and really learn not to take anything for granted in life. But just as easy as the good things in your life can change, so can the bad things in life. When you're going through a hard time it is important to remember that everything is temporary. We need to ride out the bad times and grow from the experience knowing that bad times are temporary. Life is full of ups and downs, we have to appreciate the good and ride out the bad. We need the bad times to recognize the good.
2. If you want something to change you can't wait around for it, YOU have to make the change happen.
This was a tough lesson for me to learn. I've always believed that you just have to go with the flow and let fate take the wheel. But as Blair Waldorf once said, “Destiny is for losers. It’s just a stupid excuse to wait for things to happen instead of making them happening.” As much as I'd like to think that everything will just fall into place and work out in the end, it won't. If you want something, you have to take action.
3. You have to learn to be your own best friend.
As an extrovert that has always had friends by her side, this was a very difficult lesson to learn. But truth be told there are going to be times and places where you don't have friends to rely on. It is important to learn how to enjoy your own company and be your own friend when needed. From shoveling my car out of five feet of snow by myself to sitting alone in a coffee shop, i learned how to be on my own and enjoy spending time by myself. After your comfortable being on your own, you feel like you can accomplish anything. It is so important to learn how to be on your own in order to learn more about yourself, become more confident, and be more open to trying new things and taking on adventures.
4. Put yourself first.
Putting yourself first sounds so selfish, but you can’t help anyone else if you don't take the time to take care of yourself first. I would always do favors for others at my own expense. Doing this in addition to putting homework, studying, and work first would just end up burning me out. You have to make time for yourself and "treat yourself." Take the time to relax, have fun, and take care of yourself. Always put your physical and mental health first, it's the most important thing.
5. Have big dreams and aspirations.
It is so important to have goals and to dream big. Living life unmotivated and with low expectations is no way to live. Living life with passion and drive helps us live life to the fullest.
6. It's all about perception.
Perception and attitude are the two most important things you need to have a good mentality. From the moment you wake up, you can decide if it's going to be a good day or a bad day. By having a good attitude and positive outlook on life, you can decide how your day is going to go. Learning how to laugh at yourself and find the good in every situation makes life so much more enjoyable then pitying yourself.
7. Money doesn't buy happiness.
I bet you’re rolling your eyes at this one. But trust me, no matter how many designer handbags shoes or five star dinners you have, you can't buy happiness. Sure these things may provide happiness to some extent, but it's only temporary. Real, genuine, long lasting happiness comes from so much more than just money. Money won't solve all your problems in life, there's so much more to genuine happiness.
8. Health and happiness are the two most important things in life.
When I was younger and said my prayers at night, my parents would always make me thank God for our health and happiness. I always thought that was silly, I kind of took both of those for granted. After growing up, I can honestly say that these are the two most important things in life. Most of us are so used to being healthy and happy that we forget how fortunate we are to have health and happiness in our lives. If we have health and happiness in our lives, we have everything we need to have a beautiful and enjoyable life.
