24 Lessons at 24



Warning: Lenghty post!


Clean your closet regularly
I associate my closet with my life. (Weird, right?) When my closet is neatly arranged, I feel like my life is put together. This may sound silly but try it! It's stressful at first trying to fix everything but afterwards, it feels rewarding.

Get a pet
It's no secret that I am an animal lover. I currently have three dogs and just last week, I got a kitten and named her Blue. My pets give me so much joy. I love coming home because as soon as I open the door, I see all of them happy to see me.

Start Your Fitness Routine
At first, I started working out because I was getting ready for the beach. That was my only goal. But the more frequently I worked out, the more I saw positive results. Not only did my body look better but I felt great on the inside as well knowing that I am taking care of myself.

Keep travelling
In yours 20s is the time to be selfish while you only have yourself to think about. I am constantly travelling now that I'm single because it'll be hard in the future when I have a family to sustain. It also comes a lot cheaper when you only have to worry about paying for yourself. I really want to see the world before I settle down.

Say thank you
Show your appreciation whenever you can. A simple thank you can go a long way. It instantly puts a smile on a person's face when you thank them. Bring people up not the other way around.

Put down your phone
Live in the moment. I know that in this day and age, social media is very important. Everyone wants to be updated on each other's lives but we don't have to use technology to do it. Why not go over to your friend's house so you can talk instead of using Telegram all day?

Know the difference between a want and need
A part of being 24 means paying for your own things. I have had to be smart with spending my money since my parents don't give me allowance anymore. Only buy what you need not what you want.

Choose who you surround yourself with
Yes, it is good to meet new people but you don't necessarily have to open up your whole life to them. There are a lot people out there who you have to watch out for.

Family comes first
If there's one thing I regret, it's all the times I missed family outings because I prioritised parties back in college. Family is everything and you should always put them first because they really are the ones who will be there through thick and thin.

It's never to late to start
You can be 12, 24, 36, or 60 years old. It doesn't matter what age you are. If there's something you have always wanted to do, go for it. Maybe it's to go back to school, learn a craft, or get into a new sport.

Don't get disheartened when you fail 
In connection to #1, you will never know whether you are good at it or you suck at it unless you try. Who knows maybe all this time you have a hidden talent that you didn't know about? If it turns out that you're horrible at it, just laugh it off and move on. I have already come to terms that I cannot sing, draw, or play sports which is why I stuck to writing, photography, and working out. We all have our own niche. Take the time to find out what yours is.

Spend your time wisely
I always wish for more hours in the day because lately 24 hours is NOT enough. There's so much I want to do, people to see, and places to go. Knowing this, I make sure that I carefully plan out my day to make sure I maximize my time.

Meet as many people as you can
I have a lot of set of friends that I've met at the most unexpected places. I don't like people who are "cliquish" and only stick to a certain group. You learn so much when you expand your circle of friends from all walks of life.

Your relationship doesn't define you
Whenever two people get into a relationship, it's only normal that they start spending a lot of time together but that doesn't mean you have to do everything together too. It's important to have a life outside of your relationship.

Change your perspective
You cannot control what happens but you can control how you react. Lets admit it--- life is hard. You never know what's gonna happen next. When things don't go your way, strive to look for the silver lining. There's no point in staying upset.

Don't seek revenge
When someone does you wrong, don't get try to back at them. It's hard but it shows maturity. Be the bigger person and walk away.

Treat others how you want to be treated
I honestly believe that how you treat others says a lot about your character. It doesn't matter whether the person is your boss or the janitor in your building. If you treat them with respect, you will get the same in return.

Not everyone you lose is a loss
You will lose people as you get older. It's part of growing up. We all have our own lives now. Some are starting their own families while there are those busy chasing their dreams. It is only normal that you will stop keeping in touch. It doesn't have to be because of a fight or because you dislike them. This is when you will see who your real friends are. They are the ones who never go away even if you don't get to see or talk to them as often as you like.

Take responsibility for your actions
No more playing the blame game. You're 24 and old enough to know right from wrong. Don't pass the blame on someone else but instead, own up to it. You can learn from the experience to make you a better person.

You don't have to have everything figured out right now
I resigned from my job just last week with no concrete plans on what I am going to do next. It's scary but at the same time, I'm excited to find out where life will lead me. When I was 10, I told my mom I wanted to be married by 24 years old. She laughed and I didn't understand why then but now that I am 24, I am laughing at myself too. I don't even have a boyfriend and by the looks of it, it's going to be a long time from now. Go on your own pace. After all, it will happen according to God's timing.

If it doesn't make you better, let it go 
This has been my motto for the year. Anything that causes you stress is not worth holding on to. It's bad for you mentally, physically and emotionally!

Be honest with yourself
No one knows you better than YOU. I think it's about time we stop the in denial and start embracing who you are. There's no point in pretending to be someone you are not. In the end, you're only fooling yourself.

Happiness is a choice
Every decision is your own choice. No one else can make it for you. After going through that hell of a break up, I realized that the only person who can make myself truly happy was myself. I could've chosen to sulk in my room but instead, I made the conscious decision to do things to make myself happy.

Believe in the power of prayer
It really does wonders.














Photos by Charles Rudolfo

No comments:

Post a Comment