Perfection is overrated and other lessons learnt in life

Yesterday was my birthday. YAY!

And this is my first serious blog post.Double YAY!

All my life, i have loved birthdays and cake and everything to do with the day. Surprise birthdays are my favourite. Whether it is celebrating my birthday or someone else’s birthday. For me it is a time to reflect, be grateful and plan for the new year of your life. One of the things that i have always loved doing since i was a child was write. I wrote about anything and everything but somewhere along the way i stopped. Maybe it was the pressures of growing up and the changing seasons, i do not know, but yesterday evening as i wrapped up the day’s celebration, i decided that i was going to start writing as much as i can.

Life is interesting, it can be sad or happy, fulfilling or not fulfilling. Life is many things to different people but at the end of the day Life is actually a journey of learning. In the journey of life we learn from our own experiences, other people’s experiences, from books, from art, from writings, from the least expected of sources. Here are some of the lessons that i have learnt in my life’s journey.

Your attitude towards life determines life’s attitude towards you. If you think life is unfair and not worth living then do not be surprised when nothing seems to be working. If you have a positive attitude and treat life like a gift then things begin to look up. No amount of money or skills can heal a bad attitude. Change your attitude, Change your life. 

Be kind to yourself. I have spend years being so hard on myself, convincing myself that i was not good enough, comparing myself with others whose journeys i did not understand. Love yourself and treat yourself well.Learn to forgive yourself for mistakes you have made before. Forgiveness is a gift you need to give to yourself.

Feel the fear but do it anyway. Courage is not the absence of fear, it is stepping out despite the fear. How many times does opportunity pass us by because we were too scared to try. Afraid of what people with think or say, afraid of the unknown. If i had a shilling for every time opportunity passed me by because i was too afraid then i would be a millionaire by now. You will be afraid so many times but do not let it hold you back.

Save, save , save. If possible save from your first paycheck. A little amount saved regularly becomes a big amount later. Learn about money, learn to manage your own finances. Invest. Spend less than you earn. Make money your servant and not your master.

Practice gratitude. Learn to say thank you to people. Count your blessings. The more we are grateful for the good things we have in life the more they seem to increase. Choosing to focus on the positive and the more you do that you will realize that there is always something to be grateful for. Keep a gratitude journal if you can, it comes in handy on those days you feel down.

You cannot please everyone. Seriously, you cannot. If you stop and stress out in life  at every opinion expressed then you may not accomplish much.

“You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks”. Winston Churchill

I have learnt that in every decision i make, i need to consider whose opinion matters and discard the rest. Some decisions are personal while others may need consulting and opinions of others who know better.Be wise enough to know the difference

Your body is your most valuable asset. You will be in it till the end of your life. Take care of your body. Diet, exercise and peace of mind are important. When we are younger you realize that you can eat all the junk and just be a lazy slob but as the years go by your body slows down and you unhealthy lifestyle begins to take a toll on you. Be active, watch your diet, drink water, deal with stress and prioritize caring for your body.

It is okay to be clueless. I know i have been clueless about so many things in life. No  person is the source of all the knowledge in life. Accepting that you don’t know is the first step to learning and finding information. Ask questions for it is better to look stupid for  a minute that to pretend you know while you do not.

Relationships are not easy. Friendships or marriages. They take sacrifice and lots of compromise.

Perfection is overrated. Seriously it is!!! Perfect life! Perfect spouse! Perfect job! Perfect home etc. No they don’t exist. Who is perfect? Strive to give life your best but not perfection. Mistakes will happen that’s for sure but figure out what caused it , rectify and learn. Mistakes are part of life, learn from them.

Stop working hard. Work smart instead. I went to school with a lady who spend close to 20 hours studying everyday. She was either in class or the library with her books and a serious face to match. Unfortunately she didn’t perform so well after high school. Spending hours on a task does not always equal to productivity. Find out how to get tasks done well within a reasonable amount of time and with the available resources.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Really , Don’t

Slow down and smell the roses. Too often we live our lives in such a rush, moving from one task to another. Sometimes slowing down and taking stock of the progress we have made so far is better for our energy levels and sanity. Read more HERE.

Listen to your gut. Some of us call it the instinct. You know that small voice at the back of your mind . Like a hunch or a feeling about something or someone. Listen to it.

You are your associations. As much as you would want to admit that you are strong and cannot be swayed you unknowingly absorb the habits and attitudes of the people you spend the most time with. You want to be an eagle? Then soar with the eagles and quit scratching the surface with hens.

People come and go.  We meet several people along the journey of life. Some will stay, others will go. People change, relationships and friendships change. You realize that you no longer have anything in common with your best friend because you have both grown and evolved in different directions, there is nothing wrong with that. People come into your life for a reason, season or a lifetime. Accept that fact and quit trying to force an interaction.

You are unique. Science says that no two humans have similar fingerprints. Well, no two human beings are the same. Do not compare your life with someone else’s life for you may not have walked in their shoes. You may not know their story. Accept your self and believe in your uniqueness, believe that you have a gift to offer to the world. Celebrate yourself.

Don’t take yourself too seriously. Laugh at yourself, laugh at yourself for making stupid decisions. Do not be too uptight, it is not good for you or the people around you.

Don’t Take Yourself So Seriously.Yeah, yeah, you’re an individual, and people have to take you seriously, I get it. But at the end of the day, we’re all a bunch of ants trying to chase the same things. Lighten up.

( 25 Things About Life I Wish I Had Known 10 Years Ago by Darius Foroux)

Travel, Travel , Travel. Travel and explore within your neighborhood, within your country or another country. Visit and experience other cultures that are different from yours. No need to break the bank to travel, you can save, visit during the low season or travel within a budget. Traveling has a way of expanding your thinking and leaning to appreciate our differences as human beings.

Money is good but it is not everything. Money will afford you comfort and convenience. Do not get lost in making money that you miss all the pleasures of life. There is nothing as good as making money as you enjoy it.

Comfort zones stunt your growth. Yes they do. Take risks. Do something different, spend time with people who are different from you. Stretch yourself.

Keep learning, keep growing. We are never too old to learn something new. Stretch your mind.

No one is an expert on you except you. Always remember that.

#DareToBe