40 things it took me 40 years to learn

Not sure if I’ve mentioned, but I’m turning 40 tomorrow. And I’m fine about it, really I am…

But since it’s such a milestone birthday, and society expects that I may have started to be all mature and wise and sensible and shit, it’s gotten me thinking about all those little life lessons or pearls of wisdom I have picked up along the way. Some is genuine life experience, some is advice I’ve been given by some influential people in my life, some I can’t be completely certain I haven’t read in an Instagram meme. But, in the wise words of Baz Luhrmann, I will dispense this advice now:

  1. Wear sunscreen

Just kidding! Although sunscreen is pretty important!

  1. Things will happen whether you worry about them or not
  2. Period pain never gets any easier
  3. Practice being in the moment as early as you can, I still haven’t mastered it after 40 years and often think about all the missed ‘moments’ because i was more concerned about what I was having for tea
  4. Take photos of everything and everyone you love
  5. Never use the phrase ‘guiltily pleasure’. Don’t feel guilty about anything that brings you joy (unless its illegal of course)
  6. You can’t have a sensible debate with anyone online without being called fat or likened to Hitler
  7. There are two things you can control: your input and your attitude
  8. Mistakes are things you’ve done, not who you are
  9. When you’re right no one remembers, when you’re wrong no one forgets
  10. People only ever notice how late you work not how early you start
  11. It’s ok to have done things in the past you’re not proud of
  12. However much water you currently drink, drink more
  13. Ditto sleep
  14. Never trust someone who says ‘trust me’
  15. Find a hairdresser you trust and never leave them
  16. Trust in karma. Whats goes around always comes around. Always
  17. Its ok to like reality TV and documentaries or the Backstreet Boys and the Beatles. You’re allowed to be a multi faceted person with lots of conflicting interests
  18. Strangers on the internet don’t know you, their opinions don’t matter
  19. Eat well for your body, exercise for your mind
  20. Cheese improves everything
  21. People see you completely differently to how you see yourself (usually positively!)
  22. If someone criticises you, notice it, but don’t dwell on it
  23. If you can go to sleep at night knowing you did what you did with the best intensions, you’re doing a good job
  24. Ask for help when you need it
  25. Be the person *you* want to be, not the person you think other people want you to be
  26. Own your flaws. Self awareness is really attractive
  27. The optimal wine price point is between £8-£15, anything under is hit or miss, anything over isn’t worth the money
  28. Never take criticism from someone you wouldn’t take advice from
  29. An afternoon on the sofa is never wasted if its what you need
  30. If you have a gut feeling about something, it’s almost always right
  31. Learn to swim as young as possible
  32. Stick with languages at school
  33. Being untidy isn’t the horrific character trait people like to make out it is
  34. If you do keep only one room tidy, make it your bedroom, it helps with the whole good nights sleep thing
  35. Watching murder documentaries all day makes you have horrific dreams
  36. Fill silences with music
  37. If someone asks for something, its ok to say no
  38. Take your make up off before you go to bed no matter how tired or drunk you are
  39. Impressing people shouldn’t be an effort
  40. Everybody. Everybody love the Backstreet Boys. You were right all along

But trust me, on the sunscreen.

 

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