29 Things...Part IV

I spend a lot of time thinking (it’s rarely quiet in my head) and analyzing situations, problems, mistakes, successes, etc. I like to understand the reasons for all these things in my life so I can make better choices in the future. And I think along that route, you learn A LOT about yourself and about people in general.

29 Things I Have Learned

1. You can only control what you do and nothing else.

2. Happiness is a choice.

3. Never underestimate the power of prayer

4. Age is just a number

5. Don’t give your power to someone else

6. Always hope for the best and prepare for the worst

7. Be accountable for all your actions, words, and decisions. Know that it all has a consequence.

8. Fear is also a choice.

9. You can’t change someone who doesn’t want to change. You can’t help someone who doesn’t want help.

10. Trust your intuition

11. At any given moment you can make a change for the better

12. It takes more strength and bravery to be vulnerable than it does to be an impenetrable wall

13. Everyone has their own demons. Don’t be ashamed of yours! Just battle on!

14. You could always have less

15. There is good in everything

16. Forgiveness means you acknowledge what happened and move on NOT justifying what happened.

17. The most important thing in a relationship is RESPECT, then comes TRUST, and then love. There is no point loving that person if you don’t respect and trust them.

18. People can surprise you.

19. Saying “NO” is not selfish.

20. Taking care of yourself once in a while is NOT selfish. You need to care for yourself in order to take care of others

21. Mom really does know best

22. Mistakes are necessary to become a better person and have a greater life, it is a learning tool.

23. The struggles you go through will be the things you will be most proud of

24. Being self-sufficient removes the NEED to have a partner. It is much better to have a partner out of WANT than necessity. So HOLD YOUR OWN.

25. Maturity doesn’t mean giving up the things you liked/used to do when you were younger. It means knowing the right time and place to do those things!

26. Religion was created by man as a way to show their devotion to a supreme being (who I call God). There is no one true perfect religion. We are simply different rivers flowing into the same ocean.

27. To be thankful means to acknowledge that all things were given

28. Sin comes from 2 things, pride and selfishness. Humility conquers both.

29. Traveling is the best investment because it can imprint your life in a way no amount of money can do.

I have obviously learned a lot from my mistakes (and other people’s mistakes.) Writing down what I have learned really reflects how much I have grown. I can see a bunch on my list now that I probably would not have included even 2 or 3 years ago. With every action or conversation or decision there is a lesson to be learned. We need to use this to create the best possible versions of ourselves.