Today I was challenged to write a blog post with a list. There were all sorts of list ideas that bounced around in my head; all the things I need to get done, good books, good movies, favorite bands. None of those have much substance though, so I decided to make a list of important lessons I have learned in my life so far. I know, I know, I'm only nineteen and I probably have a lot to learn but at the same time I already have learned quite a bit. Take a look for yourself...
1. You do not need to search for love, when you are ready it will find you and it will probably happen in the most unexpected way. I have seen many friends have fruitless relationships and countless one-week boyfriends. I myself tried so hard to be someone I wasn't for the wrong guy. When I stopped trying and focused on making myself happy I found a wonderful boy who was right in front of me all along, it just hadn't been the right time for us yet.
2. Take photographs of everything, write in a journal on a regular basis and hold on to random keepsakes. When people ask what one thing I would save (excluding people) if my house were on fire, my first thought is always my scrapbooks and journals or my memory box. I have journals going back to 6th grade and scrapbooks from when I was a baby. I have a box filled with notes my friends passed in middle school, girl scout pins and friendship bracelets. It can be so amazing to look back on these memories and really remember how I was feeling. Some may call me a pack-rat, but these things are my life and memories in tangible form.
3. Do not judge people based on looks or how they seem. I am only human, of course I have my stereotypes and make judgments, but there is so much more to people than how they appear on the outside. It makes me sick to hear people judge someone because they are overweight; you never know why that person is overweight, it could be because of physical or mental problems. There are countless other stereotypes that follow this same idea; drug addicts are awful people, quiet people don't want to make friends, poor people deserve it. You never know the life story behind someone you just met or what led them to the situation they are currently in. There are so many amazing and inspirational people in the world, take a chance to get to know them.
4. Try to quiet your heart and just listen to your higher power. I have always been a fixer; I try to repair friendships, fix peoples problems, make everything work out just right, attempt to please everyone...And it just doesn't work. You can't fix everything, you can't please everyone and you can't always make the right decisions when you are thinking too much. I know that sounds stupid, but seriously, next time you have a hard choice to make just stop thinking. Listen to your heart, pray, look around you; the answer is there already. There are most likely signs of some sort, you just need to see them.
5. Never miss out on a chance to get to know someone better. I am a big fan of having a small group of friends and really getting to know each of them. But there are always a lot of other people surrounding you; co-workers, the waitress at your favorite restaurant, the parents or siblings of a friend. You should really get to know those people, I am sure they have some amazing stories to tell. Surround yourself by positive people and truly get to know them, don't just scratch the surface. This is a lesson I learned recently; my friends dad passed away and he was an amazing man. Unfortunately, although this was my best friends dad, I really didn't know him that well. I wish I had taken the time to talk to him more often.
6. Smile. This one is simple, just smile at everyone and everything. Smiling will always make you feel better and it will brighten the day of those around you. Smile when you're driving, meditate and smile (Google it, smiling meditation is actually kind of fun), smile at strangers, just do it! It is so much more fun to put energetic music on in the morning and throw a smile on your face than to chug another cup of coffee and glare at everyone.
7. Go to bed and wake up earlier. This is a lesson I'm still trying to learn. I have always been pretty good at going to bed at a decent time but I hate waking up. But lately I have learned that waking up even an hour earlier can make a huge different. I wake up at 8 on Sunday mornings when my entire dorm is still asleep and get to do my laundry uninterrupted! I'm now working on waking up a tad earlier so I have time to do some yoga or to dance around in the mornings. I feel so much better throughout the day when I get up and start moving and I love the peace there is in the morning, before the chaos of life starts up again.
8. Read a good book. Nothing can help you de-stress more than a good book. I try to end my day each day with a little bit of reading. It helps fill my mind with fun stories (and less stress) before bed. Also, reading (even "brain candy" books as my moms calls them...Books like Twilight) can teach you something; even your biggest guilty pleasure can bring you some knowledge, there are always new words, new phrases, new concepts. The more you read the more you know!
9. Go ahead and eat that cookie. I am all about eating healthy and I am seriously trying to create healthier eating habits for myself, but you will be miserable if you deprive yourself of the occasional treat. Everyone deserves a cookie every once in awhile, or everyday in my case ;-)
10. Fight for what you want, don't give up and follow your heart. This is probably the most important lesson I have learned in life so far. I haven't had anything in life handed to me, I have had to work for my college education, for things I want and things I need. It isn't always easy but it will be worth it in the end. I am stressed out a lot, trying to figure my life out and trying to decide how to pay for college but I am doing something I love which makes it all worthwhile. I choose a major that a lot of people told me I shouldn't because it was what I knew I wanted to do, it is my passion. If I had picked something different I would be nearly as dedicated to working hard and would be miserable having to fight so much to pay for school. Of course you should always make rational decisions, don't do anything too crazy, but make sure your heart has a say in what you do. Once you make a decision, stick with it and fight till the end.
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