Dose of Prose

If you were to ask me what my favorite holiday is, my answer, without a doubt would be Valentine’s day. I am a little biased, however, because Valentine’s day also happens to be my birthday. Yes, I am a Valentine baby and proud of it. Turning 23 is crazy to me, because when I was younger, I was always looking into the future, wanting to be older. Now that I finally am in my 20s, I’m ready for things to slow down, because being a young adult is no walk in the park by any means. But on the bright side, I am eager to continue to learn, grow and build the best version of myself. I think that’s truly what growing up is all about – finding yourself and your purpose on this Earth, and figuring out how to manifest that purpose into something amazing. 

Today’s post is a little more personal, as I am talking about some life lessons I’ve learned in my 22 years of living. Even if you are not my age, at some point you were, or will be 23, so I’m sure you can relate. Feel free to share if one of these lessons resonates with you. These are in no particular order – I just wrote down my thoughts as they came along in my head. Enjoy, and happy Valentine’s Day.

1. You are exactly where you need to be in life. Honor where you are, cherish it and don’t take it for granted.
2. Don’t get caught up in ‘woulda, coulda, shoulda.’ If you want something to happen, you are the only one who has the power to make it happen. Say what it is that you hope to achieve, confirm it, manifest it and consider it already done. Your mindset makes a huge difference in your ability to achieve your definition of success.
3. People come in and out of your life for a reason. The negative and the positive relationships are both blessings – either way it goes down, you learned something from them.
4. Not everyone was raised like you, and as a result, not everyone will have the same morals, beliefs and values that you do. Be confident and stay strong in what YOU believe. Just because someone thinks differently than you, doesn’t mean that their opinions are more valid than yours.
5. Timing is e v e r y t h i n g. If something isn’t happening for you when you want it to happen, it WILL eventually happen, it’s just not the right time yet. Time is on your side. Your time will come. Everything happens for a reason. 
6. Pictures and videos on social media are an illusion – what something appears to be online is not always the way it is in real life. Don’t get caught up in comparing your experiences with others, or you’ll never be satisfied with your accomplishments.
7. Not everyone has your best interests at heart. The only person you should compete with is yourself. Be like a tree and let the dead leaves fall.
8. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. Surround yourself with people that support you, and ignore the people constantly sticking their nose in your business.
9. Everyone struggles at some point in their life. Even if they don’t talk about it, everyone is fighting or has fought some type of battle. You are not alone.
10. Eat right, sleep well and stay active. Basically, take care of yourself. You’re only given one body – don’t let it go to waste.
11. Make yourself the priority. You can be a little selfish – it’s okay.
12. Problems are guidelines, not stop signs. 
13. If you feel the need to show other people that you’re ‘working,’ you’re not working hard enough.
14. The way you present yourself on and offline plays a role in the type of attention you attract and the way others perceive you. No one wants to admit it, but I will. We are visual human beings, and everyone to some extent cares what others think of them. Appearances are important – everyone has some type of insecurity. But don’t let your insecurities consume you. Know your worth, then add tax. 
15. Social media can become a lot to handle mentally and emotionally. If it becomes too much, take a day or two to detox. 
16. If you have a lot on your plate, don’t keep adding more. Being busy is a blessing, but you have to slow down and take a step back every so often. Only eat what’s on YOUR plate. When your plate is empty, or when you feel hungry again, then you can add more food.
17. We have over 66,000 thoughts a day and it’s hard to control them all. But try not to be stuck in negative thought – keep the positive ones flowing. 
18. Make memories. If you’re traveling, don’t just take photos of landmarks or food that you can honestly find a better picture of on Google. Instead, take photos of the people you’re sharing your experience with. Make memories you can cherish for life.
19. Everybody channels their energy differently. Be happy with the way you are. You don’t have to change your personality to fit what you think others want you to be like. Your true friends will like you for you. 
20. Life is short. Don’t go to bed angry or leave things unresolved. Tell the people in your life you love and care for them.
21. On the other side of fear, is everything you want in life. Go get yours.
22. Be a resource to other people. Without network there is no work. You never know where certain connections may lead. Don’t let the bridges you burn light the way to your success. In fact, don’t burn any bridges at all.

I definitely could go on with more that I’ve learned these past few years, but I’ll save those for next year. For now, I’m just excited to see what 23 brings. I’ll catch you in my next post.

-Kaamilah