24 Things I Learned.

I recently turned 24. I took a week long vacation to gain some new perspective on life. I realized there are some things that aren’t necessarily facts but our experiences have shown us to treat them so. That is the code we live by. I want to share 24 things that I’ve learned along the way in this little journey.

1. Nothing really matters in this world, unless you give it importance.

The world is how you perceive it to be. So tomorrow if money looses importance to you, it won’t matter, only for you.

2. Life is about multiple things that you give value to.

Why do you choose life to be only about a single thing? you live different roles everyday, surely your life has more than one side, more than one meaning.

3. You and your ex can be friends, but it’ll be weird at times.

It is weird at times and yes, the feelings never go away. But you learn to deal with them. Or not, it’s your life.

4. Some people aren’t meant for casual relationships, you’re one of them.

I simply fail to understand how people can keep it casual.

5. If you only work when you feel like, you won’t get where you want to be.

That’s something I can pass it on as a fact. You gotta work hard to get where you want, there’s no all fun and easy way. There will always be hard turns and you just won’t be ready, but, you gotta face them anyway.

6. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it.

Yup. Right before doing it, there will be a little voice inside you telling you to not do it. Listen to that.

7. Never compromise your values for company.

Cool folks won’t let you hang out with them unless you do something you might secretly regret all your life. Well, may be they are too ‘cool’ for you.

8. Give people chance to break your trust.

This one is my favorite. 9 out of 10 people are going to break your trust. But that 10th person, that person’s gonna be more than what you asked for.

9. Be human, rather than being right.

It’s worth it. If you’re 100% right all the time, you’re nothing short of an asshole.

10. If it takes more than two days, involve people.

I have really low self motivation skills (I am building on it). So if you want to do something and it’s going to take a fairly long time, you need people to do it with you.

11. Never drink alone. Never pay for sex.

Drinking alone is for sad and pathetic people. It also gets you into trouble ( sure did get me into a lot). Also, I think paying for sex is degrading.

12. Money is only required to survive, relationships, are required to thrive.

I live in India. When I see the rag pickers, happy, I can only think of this. Even if you don’t have enough money, your relations alone are enough.

13. Feeling shitty after doing something you like is better than feeling shitty for not having done anything at all.

That’s kind of self explanatory.

14. Loosing your weekend on the bed like a sloth is OK.

We all do this, and at some point, regret about it. But it just feels so right. I’ve learned to accept it

15. Family trumps all.

Family. It was there when you were born, it raised you, it was there in your good times and your bad. It sure as hell will be there whenever you turn back. Always. So next time you feel a priority clash, choose family.

16. Take a shower. Everyday.

A shower is something that cleanses body, with soul.

17. Accept people, instead of judging them.

Okay, so that’s how this person functions. If you can tolerate that, stay. If not, leave. Either way, judging him/her won’t do any good.

18. You can’t be close and important for everybody.

You’re a great person. But strong bonds take time, and you only have so much time to give.

19. Happiness comes from simple things. Stupid things.

The excitement of buying that new bike will wear off, but meaningless rides with your friends, even on a rust bucket will be something you always remember with a smile.

20. A lie, repeated many times over, turns into truth.

Yes, it does happen. Only thing you should keep track of is what new truths you are creating. They tell a lot about what kind of person you want to be.

21. If you’re lending money, don’t expect it to ever return.

I do lend, to my friends, to people I know and sometimes, even to people I don’t know. But I believe, money given is money gone. Because, sometimes it really does.

22. Groom.

Well, consider it this way. You groom well, you have people’s attention (in a good way, not the weird one) and it gives you a confidence boost. I don’t like it either but I find it effective.

23. Roads have answers to everything.

Take that road trip. You don’t even need your own vehicle, bus works. Traveling helps, no matter what the problem is.

24. The goal is to die, satisfied.

Death is inevitable, the last thing anyone wants is to have regrets on death bed. So if it won’t matter on your death bed, its probably not that important.

25. Do what’s necessary first, and then, what’s possible.

Yes I know I said only 24 things. But if you survived till here, that means you connected with what I had to say. So this was a little something extra for you. :)

Please remember that these are things I believe in and there’s no reason to why you should agree to them. If you do, great, I’d like to know. If you don’t, I’d like to hear what you have to say.

Take a moment to think about what you just read.