29 Things I Am Still Learning

(Definitely not an exhaustive list.)

1. 1. People are not thinking about you, they’re thinking about themselves.
2.  2. You don’t always know what it is that will make you happy, and that’s ok.
3. 3. Enjoying the simple things doesn’t make you boring.
4. 4. People who love you don’t love you for what you might be or what you were, but rather for what you are.
5. 5. What feels the strongest is not necessarily the most true (nicked this one off Brianna Wiest)
6. 6. The way you think and feel about a situation is not a reflection of any “true reality”, just your own particular brand of reality.
7. 7. Air-fried chips are still not a “healthy” snack.
8. 8. You are more than your mind. 
9. 9. Being happy does not mean giving up on achieving more.
10. 10. Letting yourself do things you’re not good at is actually really important.
11. 11. It’s ok to fuck up, as long as you acknowledge it, own it, and learn from it.
12. 12. You do not need to be exceptionally beautiful or talented or successful to experience the things that make life profound.
13. 13. When you feel a certain bad way, call it out. It will have less control over you then and you won’t over-identify with it.
14. 14. Listen and stop talking over people.
15. 15. If you want to know what someone thinks, ask them.
16. 16. Models on Instagram are reinforcing your materialistic and superficial values.
17. 17. When your house plants die, this is in no way a reflection of how capable you are as a human being.
18. 18. Your younger self wanted different things to what you want now, because they were a different person, with less knowledge & experience.
19. 19. One day you and everyone you know will die. So don’t chuck a fit over a parking fine.
20. 20. You’ve accomplished some cool shit in life so far. Acknowledge it.
21. 21. Ask someone before you pet their dog.
22. 22. You don’t need to make everyone like you.
23. 23. No one wants to spend ages in a queue at the grocery store. You’re not special for feeling frustrated. Be patient.
24. 24. Don’t bother arguing with people on the internet. You won’t change their mind.
25. 25. Meditating 10min each day is a good use of your time (remember, Bobby Axelrod does it)
26. 26. You don’t need a character on a television show to do something for you to think it’s a good idea.
27. 27. Calm the fuck down.
28. 28. Be nice to people who can do nothing for you.
29. 29. Sometimes you are a shit driver too.

Brianna Weist and her 101 Essays To Change The Way You Think gave me the inspiration for this list. She has a beautiful way of expressing complex ideas in short, succinct bursts and I found her essays full of wisdom and delicacy.