OK, so this post is inspired by two things actually.
One- Farnoosh and Abubakar have so kindly invited me to participate in their Life Lesson’s series, in which 80+ bloggers have shared their own insights and wisdom when it comes to living.
Now it’s my turn.
Two- Jac’s recent blog post, on the 20 things as a female solo-preneur she knows for sure and you need to know too. Yet more wisdom and I’ll share some things I know to be true as well.
So, because the content of each of these posts should I write them individually would be very similar, I decided to combine the two into one, and not drive you crazy by repeating myself again tomorrow. 😉
Life Lesson 1
Time flies by quickly. In a blink it can be over, and before you know it years can pass. I wish I’d known when I was younger just how fast it goes by, I might have appreciated some of those moments even more.
Be that as it may, like every kid I thought I knew everything and that my real life didn’t start until I was an “adult”. Little did I know that the best part of being an adult are those times I get to go back to being a kid again, even for a moment… or those times I get to live vicariously through my own kids, and attempt to teach them some of the wisdom I’ve learned along the way.
What I Know for Sure
Life is meant to be lived, savored, cherished and enjoyed. Living miserably or living on auto-pilot, or living caught in the throes of “the grass is greener” syndrome isn’t living at all and if that’s you…
Time to wake the fuck up and stop wasting your God-given gifts. Capisce?
Life Lesson 2
Our kids are our future. But more and more parents are letting their children fall through the cracks, become statistics and failures, and leave it up to the rest of the world to teach them the things that are important in life. Or by the same token, leave it up to the rest of the world to teach them things no child should have to learn.
FYI- it’s not the rest of the world’s job to teach your children right from wrong, good from bad, love from hate. That’s YOUR job as a parent. It’s also your job to protect them and preserve their sense of wonder, faith, and honesty for as long as humanly possible.
What I Know for Sure
Children are a gift, on loan to us from the heavens. We have the opportunity as parents to help shape them into amazing people that provide inspiration to those around them who may be floundering. Appreciate that gift and do right by them, always… even when it’s hard.
Life Lesson 3
Mistakes and failure are a part of life. A life without mistakes and failure is a life that isn’t lived honestly, with authenticity. I’ve made a ton of mistakes in my 29 years.
A summary of a few of the biggies:
- I had kids (arguably of course) too young. Although I’ll never regret them, I admit the timing could have been better! Lol
- I’ve done some pretty stupid things in the name of partying and “having fun”. My body likely will not thank me when I’m older.
- I’ve cheated and been cheated on. Not recommended I might add… a hard lesson learned.
- I’ve hurt people and been hurt in return.
- I’ve lied when I should have been honest, because it was “easier”.
What I Know for Sure
That while mistakes are a part of life, it’s important to move forward and say no to regrets. If you live a life filled with regret, you’re always looking back. Memories are fine, but living in the past isn’t really living… see life lesson number 1.
Fail fast and fail forward, make it your mantra in all things, both personal and business related.
Above all, don’t waste energy on regrets. Everyone screws up.
Life Lesson 4
Money might not grow on trees, but it’s not as difficult to come by as I used to mistakenly think. Earning a living used to be hard, and I realize now it’s because I was trying to earn it doing something I had no love for.
Now I focus on doing things I enjoy doing, and earning the money I need to survive and thrive is easier than ever.
What I Know for Sure
Living a life with a miser mentality, focused on everything you don’t have just perpetuates even more the situation you’re trying to escape. That which you focus on expands. Now I make it a point to focus on what I do have, and have faith the rest will take care of itself.
It’s working pretty damn well so far!
Life Lesson 5
Money is not the root of all evil. Poor management of money is. Debt is even worse. Because there’s no shame in my game, I’ve got no problem telling you that I have about $40 grand in student loan debt.
By the time I pay that off, unless I do it early I’ll have paid about $30 grand on that money in interest. That’s $70 grand I’m paying back the government and all because I was naïve enough to think student loans were my saving grace when I was broke and desperate.
On top of that I’ve got about $15 grand in credit card debt, $10 grand still owed on a car that’s probably not worth $2 grand, and various other miscellaneous bills owed. Probably about $10 grand in medical bills as well, because I landed myself in the hospital at one point, with no insurance to cover me.
As you can see, I’m swimming a bit in debt. Again, money is not the root of all evil, poor management of money is. And debt is like the shackles that hold you in place and allows evil to have its merry little way with you.
What I Know for Sure
There is no such thing as “good debt”. There’s lesser evil debt, and pseudo good debt. The only type of debt that can be considered marginally OK is when you must finance a home. That should only be done if there is absolutely no way for you to pay cash for it outright.
Otherwise, if you don’t fracken have it, don’t fracken spend it. Tough I know from experience. But do it anyway. Got it?
Life Lesson 6
There are very little short cuts when it comes to the road to success. People who think success is just going to magically “happen to them” overnight, are sadly delusional. Success very rarely “just happens” to someone.
Most successful folks got where they are today by swimming through a river upstream of blood, sweat and tears. They fought, clawed, and did everything short of murder (I hope!) to get where they are today. They opened their minds to possibilities and then allowed those possibilities to manifest into dreams which then became their reality.
What I Know for Sure
Karma, manifestation, the law of attraction. All those things sound a bit “fluffy” but they are rooted in reality. Remember… that which you focus on expands, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a bad thing or a good thing… if you focus on it, it will get bigger and begin to take over your life.
You get back what you put in to this world, so if things don’t seem to be going your way, whether it’s your business, your life, your relationship… you have the power to change it.
This I know.
Figure out what you’re focusing on, and if it’s not a focus that’s going to move you forward, shift it. You can do it, I’ve got faith.
Life Lesson 7
A walk with God had to be of your own accord. Everyone will always have an opinion or point of view on “what’s important in life” and what role religion should play in it.
Everyone will always have their own interpretation of right from wrong, good from evil, what God frowns upon and what he smiles upon.
The bottom line is that your relationship with your maker is just that. YOUR relationship. No one else is going to be there when you’re dead and its reunion time.
What I Know for Sure
That there is a God and that he blesses those who have faith and that aren’t afraid of a little hard work. I know because I’ve experienced those blessings, and they’ve only been given to me by God’s good grace.
Whether that’s something you believe too will be up to you and your own life’s journey.
I’ve been on both sides of the fence and I’ve found (at least some) of the answers I’d always been looking for. I’ve no doubt you will too someday.
Life Lesson 8
Self-education is vital. Life experiences are necessary. Give yourself permission to ask questions, wonder and marvel, and generally throw yourself into living with all the abandon you can muster.
Open your mind; broaden your horizons, whether through books and reading or real life encounters… both can be game changing.
When you’re not learning and experiencing new things you’re essentially standing still… stagnant and murky, with no signs of life.
Who the hell wants to be stagnant and murky? I think vibrant and alive are much more fun, and truly living only happens when you begin your own personal journey of self-discovery. And self-discovery only happens when you realize you don’t know everything, and set out to learn all you can anyway.
What I Know for Sure
Life doesn’t wait. See lesson number 1. You’re never too old to change your mind, learn something new, or find a new path to joy. God might own your bigger picture, but the day to day belongs to you and your own free will.
Use it and make life changing choices. Use it and make a difference.
Warmest
