So, to start off with, this year has begun pretty rough. They were not kidding when they said that once you start working, you are exposed to a whole new world. A whole new horizon filled with people of different perceptions and characters. It feels like being thrown into a whole pride of lions and boy you weren’t prepared for the fight. If you have been following my blog for some time now, you will know that even last year was a hell of a ride. I welcome the new year with hopes that everything will be as smooth as peanut butter (notice the sarcasm) but well, you don’t often get what you wish for.

That being said, I am really thankful for all the experiences I had, all the people that I’ve met and all the interactions I had in the last 22 years. They have shaped me to be who I am and I wouldn’t trade any of my past bad experiences for anything. All this makes me feel like I’m a million years old ( I am a grandma at heart- we Love grandma’s, no offense), but in reality, I just turned 22 in Jan and I thought this was the perfect time to sum up what your girl has learnt in the past few years. So, brace yourself kids, and take in all that I have to say.

1. Life will throw curveballs at you every day. It will NEVER be a smooth ride. You cannot predict what will happen next and hence have an open mind to what is to come. Remember that you have the power to reset your life at any time and that you are in control.

2.  Keep your circle small. Its quality and not quantity that matters. It’s better to have 2-3 friends that genuinely care about you rather than have a hundred who just thrive on gossip.

3. Be open to learning. Take challenges in a positive way rather than cribbing about it. Life is not that easy and trust me, being negative will add to your burden. Learn from the bad encounters and keep them engraved in your mind as life-lessons

4. Spend time with Family. I was a person who liked to be by myself after a long day at work This became a habit and I didn’t want anyone to invade my personal space. But I started to realize that life is short and we cannot envisage the future. Our parents do so much for us and the least we can do is give them some of our time every day. Family love is the one love that cannot be replaced.

5. Go for mini vacations or just take time to reset every week. Life is crazy, You don’t have to be! Your body and mind need to reset and take in all that is going on around you. So take a break and cut off from the outside world even if it is for an hour or the whole day.

6. There will be a million voices every day telling you what to do and what not to do, who is good and who to stay away from, what to eat and how to look. At the end of the day, don’t let these drown out your voice. Go with the gut instinct. I am still learning to do this

7. Everything in moderation is the key. Food- exercise- Play-Work

8. Don’t try to be like someone. Whether it be looks or lifestyle. Be your own best version and this far more attractive than trying to imitate anyone

9. You are beautiful! Worthy! Loved! Even if you feel ugly somedays, even if you feel lonely. Everyone has those days. You need to be your own best friend and find ways to quiet those demons. I can do a 22 ways to love yourself more as a sequel to this post. Let me know if I should!

10. Learn a hobby. This helps in times of stress. Whether it be gaming, cooking, reading or a sport- the mind needs a distraction sometimes

11. Stress is not worth it! You will dread the acne, hair loss, weight gain, weight loss that follows. Drink a glass a water and work around the situation rather than fighting it

12. Mind-dumps are necessary- when you are overwhelmed and cannot think, Grab a journal and pour out all the thoughts that trouble you. Then write down the ways you will work around them/ deal with them. Practice gratefulness in your journal and this will help you realize how damn lucky we are

13. Self-respect is the most important trait you will possess. Don’t let anyone take you for granted

14. People are crazy. You don’t need to impress anyone. Do things that satisfy your soul and in the end, it will all be worth it

15. Distance yourself from people who whine and talk negative all day. Remeber, you are on a positivity journey and your energy will get drained if you spend time with them

16. Ignorance is bliss. For those who speak bad about you or try to get you down, the biggest pleasure for them would be to see you getting rattled. Treat them as a part of your life that never existed. I know its easier said than done, but this leads to self-satisfaction and a peace of mind that you would never expect

17.  Grades, marks are just a number. What you understand from a subject is far more important. Don’t follow the flock just because a particular profession earns alot or is much sought after. Do what you love and the peace that follows will be yours to enjoy rather than getting stuck in a place that you do not belong to

18. Be bold. Don’t let anyone take you for a ride or make fun of you. You are worth much more. Stand up to them, walk away and never look back

19.  Don’t look, Observe. It is maddening how we get so caught up in life, relations, people- that we don’t take a moment to stop and look around us. Nature is bountiful, flowers bloom everyday, the sun rises every morning and Life goes on which is pretty amazing.

20.  Try new things– Whether it be playing a new sport (for fun) or cooking. Its okay to embarrass yourself and laugh at yourself because you learn from mistakes and it’s these moments and experiences that count.

21.  You do not owe anyone or are accountable for anyone’s happiness.  You cannot please everyone and you need to be happy for you

22.  Be you! Don’t hide that amazing person that you are just to avoid people judging you. People talk and judge anyways let it be for a reason you are proud of

So those are the 22 things I’ve learned so far and I still am on the path of discovering so much more. It makes me so happy to share this with you guys and I hope to hear some thoughts on the same subject from Y’all.

All my socials are linked down below, come say hie 

Instagram– https://www.instagram.com/thelittleweirdo02/

Pinterest– thelittleweirdo

Twitter-@MelishaDsouza