1. Tell the people you love how much they mean to you even if it’s hard to do so. Say “I love you” and mean it every single time you say it.
2. Be present. Instagram and Facebook updates can wait until your time with your friends and/or family is over. No one really needs to know what you’re doing or where you’re at at that exact moment so just snap a picture or two then put your phone away. You can always upload photos or check out your friends’ Instagram stories later on, but the present moment will pass, and you won’t be able to get it back.
3. Death of a loved one affects us all differently. Grieving takes up many forms and I’ve learned that it is wrong to judge someone by the way they try to mend what was broken in their life.
4. For every person that left, it only made space for new people to come into my life. For every gaping hole that was made by those I’ve loved and left, new people came to fill in those empty spaces. There’s really no point in holding on to someone who doesn’t want to stay in your life. It will only delay the process but if they really want to go, no reason will be good enough for them to stay. And if a person wants to stay, they will make an effort to do so.
5. Fear is really just in the head.
6. No matter how many times your heart may have been broken, you will love again.
7. It’s not about how much you earn but how much you can save. And while we’re on the topic of money, you do not need a new bag, a new pair of shoes, or a new dress just because it’s on sale.
8. You do not need to follow the trend.
9. Your feelings are valid but so do everyone else’s. Your hard work does not diminish the effort of others and the pain you have does not invalidate the pain of others.
10. Be grateful for even the things you consider a mistake or wrong decisions that you made have all come together to lead you to where you’re supposed to be. Moreover, if life’s not going okay for you at the moment, life doesn’t end there, and you will have more moments to smile and feel happy about.
11. You do not need to be good at something in particular to be able to enjoy doing it. Try out a lot of different hobbies and find something you enjoy doing.
12. Your body won’t stay young forever. You’ll have to look after it by eating a balanced diet, exercising and avoiding vices that could negatively affect your health. Drink more water, wear sunscreen, eat salads. At 24, your body won’t be the same as when you were in your teenage years so put down that bag of chips. The unnecessary fat your consuming isn’t going to make your boobs any bigger.
13. Listen. Really listen to what other people is saying rather that waiting for your turn to speak while formulating what to say in your head. And when someone opens up to you, listen to them with an open mind and with no judgement. Give advice when asked or offer a hug when needed.
14. Invest in your mental health just like how you invest in your physical health. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health as everything you do starts with the mind. Whatever is in your mind manifests itself in your actions, in your words and how you deal with your everyday life. Find a therapist that you’re comfortable with (and within budget), set time in the morning to meditate, cut off drama in your life and practice little self-care activities even just a warm bath or keeping a journal. Moreover, there is no shame in going to therapy and in confronting an issue that needs resolving. Looking for help for something you can not handle is not a sign of weakness.
15. During a Sunday mass, a priest said during his homily, “Without commitment, there are only promises and hopes without a plan”. And that truly resonated with me and helped me to not settle with half-hearted guys who try to pursue me but without the intention of staying with me. It’s not always sunshine and butterflies when it comes to relationships. It requires hard work and both parties to be making effort.
16. You still get crushes in your 20’s.
17. Everyone’s timeline in life is different. As cliché as it may sound but it’s true. So, stop comparing your life from what you see on other people’s social media accounts. If you keep working hard and believing in yourself, you’ll have your break someday. Same goes as when you see an Instagram model and wonder why they have abs while you don’t, it’s probably because they were slaving themselves at the gym while you pig out on some Korean fried chicken and pizza. Let go of the idea that your life should be set on a certain timeline and that you should be able to control everything.
18. Self-love is important and helps you set boundaries in friendships and relationships.
19. It’s okay to say no to some things and people. It’s okay to miss out on an event if you feel like you need some alone time. It’s okay to say no to someone when they ask a favour that you’re not comfortable doing.
20. Always be humble. Otherwise, life will have a funny way of humbling you. Kindness and humility go a long way and people will always remember how you made them feel.
21. Love yourself enough to let go of certain things and people that weigh you down. Let go of doubts, toxic people and your insecurities. Let go of trying to keep up with the society’s always changing standards of beauty and learn to embrace your own. Let go of your comfort zone and the fear of what’s out there because you will never grow in a place of comfort. Trying something new can be scary but it’ll be worth it.
22. It is possible to forgive someone but not want them back into your life.
23. Sometimes, we walk away from people and things we love not because we don’t love them anymore but because they aren’t good for us anymore.
24. Be appreciative of every blessing you receive be it big or small. Always find a silver lining in every bad situation and you’ll eventually see things change for the better. Trust that whatever is meant to be yours will come to you.