"If you never did crazy things when you were young you will never have stories to tell when you grow old."
Change is inevitable. Change happens in people and places. In the same people over a long period of time. If there is something or someone who claims to have not changed then that person/thing has been deprived of much needed improvement. We have heard of old tales from our grandparents about their good old days and how they think that age was better than the new one. Probably they fail to understand that it is the New Age or generation that has kept them alive. As much as we would like to criticize youngsters over their choices we some how fail to perceive that we were standing in the same place a few years ago and we would react in the same way had we been in the current situation.
That is because we were young, stupid , crazy, reckless and impulsive in the same way. But should we look back and think if we should regret all those things that we did.... The answer is NO!
Here's a list of things that I learned in the past 25 years :
That is because we were young, stupid , crazy, reckless and impulsive in the same way. But should we look back and think if we should regret all those things that we did.... The answer is NO!
Had I not done any of the things I did I wouldn't have been even half of the person that I am today..
Here's a list of things that I learned in the past 25 years :
- LOVE yourself first. Pamper yourself. Why? Because you are worth all that care. What you consume now will decide the fate of your health over the next 25 years. Make sure your body gets the right amount of nutrition along with your brain.Exercise,read and travel and keep an open approach.
- FORGIVE yourself for your mistakes. You wouldn't be the person you are without making the mistakes that you have. I have made countless ones.Often you learn a lot but its difficult to move on with all that guilt.I have often wished so badly for a time machine for these very moments where I could just disappear from the gaze of the world.Unless you make peace with yourself, it'll be difficult for you to move on with your life. No one in this world is perfect everyone is as broken as you are.
- Do not base your DECISIONS based on the advice of those who don't have to face the results. Each one turns into an expert when the problem is not theirs'. Remember that very few of them actually are genuinely concerned,the rest are just curious and are probably glad that you have them.
- CAREER SWITCHES are fine. It is absolutely fine to change from the career that you started with to a different one.I switched from Teaching to Management and it does make me feel better. As a teenager most are forced to pick a career based on what their parents think is best for them. The reasons could be myriad - ranging from economic problems,parental pressures to even peer pressures.Regret is the only feeling we will be clinging to if we are not bold enough to make decisions for ourselves and realize our full potential and pursue our dreams.
- FACEBOOK is virtual and not your real life. Everything you do and everywhere you go doesn't have to necessarily be a part of Facebook. It's even more ridiculous to post elaborate messages declaring your love for your spouse on your wall when its much more practical to just wish them in person which would take less time, energy and efforts.Most of the friends you have there are largely acquaintances and not people whom you know on a personal level. Had they known you there wouldn't be a furore every time you end up explaining "so-called controversial status".
- CHANGE is inevitable. There are different phases of your life. Childhood. Teenage. Adulthood. You have different interests at different stages of your life. As a teenager I would prefer listening to a lot of grunge, metal and hard rock bands. Guess it had a lot to do with the angst and rebellious attitude you have as a teenager. (though I still enjoy watching Duck Tales,and I am not embarrassed about it). You have to accept the fact that you will change and that's A-ok. You are not expected to be the same from birth till death. That same change will turn you from a measly little caterpillar to a beautiful full grown butterfly.
- Be CRAZY.Be YOU. You are irreplaceable. No one can do what you do and how you do. The day you realize this you wouldn't have to conform with any ideas of being perfect or normal. Because when you conform you lose yourself.And the moment you lose yourself in a crowd you cannot stand out.Be different. Embrace you awkwardness. As its said "what makes you different;makes you beautiful.
- Your FAMILY will always understand you and vice versa. A tight close knit family is the fabric of existence. The only ones to stand up for you when the whole world goes against you is your family. The most misunderstood people in your teenage are your PARENTS. They are genuinely worried and concerned about your well being. As far as possible they try their best to shield you from the snares of the world. We only come to realize this as we cross into our 20s. Keep them close to you for the rest of their lives because what they did for you was probably the best they could.
- Have a few but REAL FRIENDS. Friends are an extension of our family outside our home. A friend is someone who has good things to say about you behind your back.Though you can appear to be friendly to the whole world its just a handful of people with whom we make a connection which can be carried all the way till we grow old. Friends are not made by basing it upon what they can do for you. Its not necessary to talk to them everyday or text them everyday. But they are the first people you celebrate your success with and the first ones when you need to vent out. If you have at least one such person in your life then consider yourself lucky.
- APOLOGIZE and FORGIVE. The one who apologizes is the bravest and the ones who forgives is the strongest. Harboring age old grudges over a period of years is immature and does no good to anyone. The quicker you are to forgive the more healthier is your relationship with that person. Everyone makes mistakes and "its human nature to make mistakes". Had we not been defaulting then everyone would be wearing halos on their heads.It is easy to judge people for their mistakes but difficult to recognize one's own.If you are at fault then it also makes sense to correct it to the best of your abilities.
- KEEPING EVERYONE HAPPY is not humanly possible. Everyone is bound to be offended by you at one point or the other. It is up to you to choose to make everyone happy. If they know you they will never question you because "dogs don't bark at people they know". Making people happy at the cost of your own should not be an option.
- You cannot CHANGE PEOPLE. As you are unique so are each of the entire living human population on this planet. Even a set of twins has a different set of fingerprints. No two people are the same, What sets them apart from each other makes them irreplaceable in your life.If you hate a person because he drinks alcohol or smokes there are people who maybe hating you for the way you are. Just because a person isn't like you doesn't make him/her a bad person. It doesn't make sense to try to change and mould the person according to your needs. Love them for what they are.
- Live in the PRESENT. Benjamin Franklin said:"You can be certain of only two things : DEATH and TAXES." (one a more serious note)It isn't sensible to give up enjoying the present just to postpone it for the future. Many people save for a rainy day which is perfectly acceptable. But not being able to savor the present owing to future investments because "today is a gift and that's why they call it PRESENT".
- Being SINGLE is a choice. Not an option. Just because everyone else is committed or getting married and posting pictures of their wedding or honeymoon doesn't mean you have to do that as well. It is not a race. You don't have to jump on to the bandwagon just because it is in fashion. Being committed can be commitment to work or to yourself or to any hobby or passion which makes you really happy. It doesn't always mean that you are not fit to be in a relationship.It means that you are committed to make your life the way you have thought it out.
- Life is not FAIR. When you set out in the Big,Bad World no one is there to protect you and take care of you.You are out there fending for yourselves on your own. The world is like a jungle and runs on the eternal law "survival of the fittest".
- You can't change what PEOPLE THINK OR SAY about you. If you start thinking what people think about you, then what will people do?? It isn't your job, to think what people might say about you. Because no matter what you do or say PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TALK.
- Take RISKS. Higher rate of risk = higher returns .Take risks , Take chances. If you succeed you will achieve your goal and if you fail you will have gained EXPERIENCE.
- Ask for HELP when you need it. You cannot do anything on your own.If you are given a team then make use of it. Delegate your work. Organize it. Prepare a time table, if needed.And if you do not understand something ask for help and understand it so that you are not stressed over it.
- Find something to LAUGH about everyday. "If you laugh a lot when you are young then you will get your wrinkles in the right place when you are old."
- PRAY every day and THANK God for the life he has given you. After all,
- Maria Robinson
These are just a few of the lessons I have learned. Hope you enjoyed reading. Maybe you can share a few more nuggets which you have learned ; as every journey is different from the other and just as interesting!
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