The hardest part about this blog post was coming up with a name for it 😀
About a month ago when I picked up writing again, I mentioned I was working on a reflection – some lessons learned, some life rules I’ve adopted, some general thoughts on life. And it’s finally ready!
But to pick a title …. hmmm.
See, it’s not all lessons I’ve learned, nor is it purely a list of “life rules”. Some of it I’ve personally experienced; others I’ve observed. But when it comes down to it, I decided that everything kinda falls into a broader bucket of things I know to be true.
So without further adieu, I give you These Things I Know 🙂
- Life Rule #1 is “Don’t Be An Asshole”.
- And I should clarify that this is a blanket coverage on all interpretations of that word – being shady, rude, arrogant, selfish, disrespectful, obnoxious, inconsiderate, or unkind. And if anyone wants to bring this negative junk around me? BYE FELICIA. #sorrynotsorry
- If you break Life Rule #1, realize it, acknowledge it, apologize for it, and then move on.
- Nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes. And in general, they only become super problematic if you don’t learn from them and make the same mistake over and over again.
- One of my favorite quotes need to be rewritten.
- I love quotes, really. But some should be updated to be more easily understood and put into practice, because their meaning can get lost in flowery and eloquent language. For example, take one of my favorites – “actions speak louder than words”. Totally believe it, agree with it, and live by it. But it’s too proper. My proposed alternative is: “Words don’t mean sh*t unless they’re backed up by genuine, honest, recognizable action.” BOOM. See, now isn’t that more clear?
- Big goals are great, but you have to break them down into realistic and manageable pieces to feel like you’re getting anywhere.
- This was a bit of a lightbulb moment for me. I set big goals but then get frustrated when I don’t make as much progress as I think I should be making or if it’s not happening fast enough. And I fall off the wagon and get angry with myself. I will be much more successful at setting and sticking with goals if I make them manageable and realistic. Take weight loss as one example. Instead of just having a big goal of, “I want to lose xx pounds”, keep that big goal in mind but I shift my thinking to be, “I want to lose 5 pounds to start”. Then when that happens, reset and think, “Awesome, now I want to lose 5 more” until I get to my big goal.
- Self-care is critically important, in all ways … physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.
- And sometimes you have to prioritize one aspect of self-care more than others. And that’s okay. You figure out what needs more of your focus, work through it, and then re-evaluate.
- All relationships are two-way streets. Period, end of story.
- Doesn’t matter if it’s a family member, friend, spouse or significant other, business associate, neighbor. Both people have to be willing to make an effort. And if that doesn’t happen … if only one person is putting in the effort …he or she will eventually stop trying. Trust me on this. I’ve done it – stopped trying. It sucks, especially when it’s someone you care about a lot. But it’s easier than constantly feeling ignored or that you’re the only one who cares about said relationship. BUT, that being said ….
- Relationships can also naturally ebb and flow over the course of time, particularly with people who are in your life for awhile.
- It’s natural. You just have to accept it and figure out how what works for you and (insert name). But do NOT use this as an excuse to ‘phone it in’. The note above still applies. There’s a definite difference between not putting in effort to maintain a relationship with someone and being apathetic versus navigating periods of time where it’s harder to stay in contact with someone or when you might not feel as connected (i.e. vacations, big life changes like moving or having a kid or starting a new career, new relationships, etc).
- Every single one of us is capable of doing hard things.
- You may take a different path than others, it may take awhile to do it, and/or you may not get it right the first time. But everyone can do hard things if we put our minds to it, if we stay focused, if we don’t give up.
- Don’t ignore your feelings, especially when you are struggling with something (big or small).
- Find a way to work through them, and realize that how you do that will differ from everyone else. Some people journal, some talk to friends and family, some seek help from a counselor or therapist, some exercise, some travel. Figure out what works for you. When I was going through stuff last year, I chose a combination of those examples above plus had what we jokingly called the “shouty caps notebook”, when I’ve had some strong and/or angry words to get out of my system but didn’t want to or didn’t feel like I could share them in real life 🙂
- And also, remember that just because someone doesn’t outwardly express how they feel doesn’t mean they don’t feel.
- Big difference between not showing feelings versus not feeling.
- If you want to help someone going through a tough time, do something, anything, to show you’re there for them.
- Words are great, sure. But they’re easy to say and don’t always come backed up with actual meaning. (See bullet point 3 above.) Asking someone “how can I help” may or may not do any good, because often times he or she who is struggling doesn’t know how to answer that question. I was one of them – at the time, I didn’t know how anyone could help. So instead, aim for something different … set aside quality time to spend together, pop in a favorite movie and watch with them, cook them a meal, go out for a coffee, take a walk or try a new form of exercise together, share a favorite book/lyrics/quote, drop a card or letter in the mail, etc. SHOW THEM you’re there, don’t just tell them.
- Choose your words wisely, especially during emotionally heavy situations.
- Once you say them or write them, you can’t take them back, no matter how hard you wish for someone to forget them. It’s simply not possible.
- Also, be careful with how much you decide to share with people.
- This is particularly true for new or difficult or confusing situations you find yourself in. Really think about it … will what I say do any good? could it permanently change how I think about someone or how they think about me, and how will I deal with it never being the same? how will I feel after – happy, relieved, warm and fuzzy, embarrassed, etc? Again, it’s worth repeating – once you put something out there, you can’t take it back. Is it worth the risk sometimes? Absolutely. But not always.
- What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
- Kind of an exaggeration (the ‘killing’ part), but it’s true. Similar to “you can do hard things”, you CAN and WILL get through tough times. And often you’ll come out better and brighter after the darkness 🙂
Take care of yourself, and take care of each other. Remember Life Rule #1. And let’s make it a great week!
Cheers,
SMR
Me And My Tiara 