24 Things I Learned at 24

1.
They’re absolutely right. You are the author of your own life.

It’s either you’re the hopeless main character of a tragedy, or you’re just temporarily going through a transitional montage that is leading you towards more beautiful chapters.

It’s either an ending, or a new beginning.

Most of the time, it is truly just a matter of perspective.

2.
Self love is an indispensable and vital part of being a human being. You can’t move forward and get to where you need to be if you can’t support yourself from within.

You just have to find yourself back to it.

3.
You don’t need anyone in your life that looks at you and doesn’t see your core.

Zircon, morganite and moissanite can be as pretty and shiny as a diamond, albeit some even more so — and yet a diamond’s value is much more immense than most gems combined. The facade is merely just a facade, no matter how much it’s appreciated and deemed to be the prettiest from its exterior.

It takes more than simply looking at a diamond at surface value to recognize its immense worth, character and strength. The same goes for you. We all have a core that is telling of our character.

Each one of us is a diamond. Only choose people that recognize you as one.

4.
Choose yourself. Live your life for yourself. It’s you and will always be you – in your sleep, in your deathbed, and in your grave.

5.
Offer shade to those who have watered you.

Close to nothing is more rewarding than giving back to the people who care for, remember, respect and love you.

6.
Karma has your back when no one else does. Karma is probably your most loyal friend in this life — and will give you what you deserve even without you moving a single finger.

You may empathize and forgive, but karma never forgets until the scale balances itself.

Be kind, focus on yourself, and let her do her thing.

7.
Never lose the core of your dreams. Your whys. It’s your map, and the answer to the existential doubts and questions that may eventually spring up along the journey.

(The core can also change — your why now doesn’t have to be your why for the rest of your life. It can morph with growth, and that’s okay too.)

Just as long as you have it, you won’t get lost.

8.
Sometimes, the key is simply your consistency.

9.
Carry yourself how you want to become and remembered.

10.
Handle yourself gently. Invest in yourself.

Self care is a personal reward, that is at the same time also rewarding for the overall bigger picture.

Extra care put into yourself radiates past the surface, and creates a ripple — that affects your standards subconsciously, and even the decisions you make.

(Also yes, self care also involves the people you allow into your life. It’s your call who gets to stay. )

11.
If it is possible for at least two other people, then why not you?

Nothing is truly impossible if you don’t consciously believe it to be.

12.
The human existence is nothing like any other in this incredibly vast universe.

There’s magic in that.

13.
Remember that every single day is filled with multiple butterfly effects – and the most powerful thing is, you can decide which course you can take your life to, according to the little decisions you choose to take action on.

And because of that, nothing is ever too late to do. Nothing is too late to change for the future you wish for.

14.
You can never lose as long as you’ve loved.

You don’t fail at love. Ever. There’s always a greater, better, softer, wiser, more powerful version of you waiting on the other side that learned to love a little bit better.

So, is that a loss when you’ve gained so much?

15.
There is no shame in standing up for yourself. Honor your boundaries. Raise your head. There is no grace in letting others walk over you.

16.
Life has the potential to change so drastically in five years, in a year, in a month, in a week, and even in a day.

It’s the terrifying yet rejuvenating nature of life.

Regardless of how miserable and hopeless it may seem, continue to look forward. You never know what awaits around the corner.

17.
Contrary to popular belief, money can buy you happiness. It just depends on where you spend it.

18.
Death isn’t scary and it shouldn’t be. Everything in this universe is fleeting. It’s what makes life more precious and beautiful. Even in loss and endings, there is something to be grateful for.

The fact that it once existed is a blessing and a miracle in itself.

19.
You are never too old to like certain things and hobbies. Continuing to love the things you used to as a kid is never a bad thing. There is no such thing as too childish to enjoy. As long as you find joy in it, there is no shame in that.

20.
You are always stronger and braver than you believe and assume yourself to be.

Acknowledge your power.

21.
I would rather be cringe than have regrets.

One leaves a far more bitter aftertaste than the other.

As the famous internet meme goes,
“I may be cringe but I am free”.

22.
A different path is not a wrong path.

It’s just different from what is typical.
Simple as that.

(More people should learn to distinguish the two.)

23.
Wisdom can only be attained through experience, discomfort, growth and reflection.

24.
There is something so powerful about knowing exactly what you want, and unabashedly believing you deserve it.

24 Things I Learned at 24

2022

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