My Half Birthday

So today is my half birthday. I am 27 ½. So I decided to write 27 ½ life lessons. Enjoy. I know most of these are givens but I had to learn them.

1. I’ve learned that most people are passionate about their beliefs, even the ones you don’t like. You have to learn tolerance and learn to love them despite of these issues.

2. I’ve learned that you need to get outside of your comfort zone. You have to put yourself out there in order for things to happen. You can’t sit on the bench and expect life to come to you.

3. I’ve learned that you can not become complacent in life. If you are there then you are not progressing.

4. I’ve learned you always have to be your best self. You never know who is watching and what they are learning.

5. I’ve learned you should be kind to everyone. “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle”-Plato

6. I’ve learned you have to have priorities and you have to know what they are. Keep them in front of you even when it gets hard.

7. I’ve learned that you have to set your standards high. “Shoot for the stars, you may not get one but you won’t get a handful of dirt either”

8. I’ve learned that we all fail in life (oh have I learned this) and we have to keep going. We must be able to learn from these experiences.

9. I’ve learned that no matter how hard you try, you can’t make someone love you back. All you can do is be someone who can be loved.

10. I've learned that no matter how much I care some people just don't care back.

11. I’ve learned that people are more important than material things.

12. I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influence on who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

13. I’ve learned that we control how we feel, not others. We are responsible for these feelings. Laughing, crying, joy and anger… All are a vital, we are only human. And if I feel angry that doesn’t give me the right to hurt others. Once something is said, there is no taking it back. It's out there.

14. I’ve learned that age has little to do with maturity. It depends on the type of experience you have and if you learn from them. We’ve got to let ourselves learn from each life experience.

15. I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

16. I’ve learned that I am my biggest critic. I need to see more good in myself then others will too.

17. I’ve learned that in life we get our heart broken. When this happens, and it happens, the world keeps moving. Time heals all wounds, regardless of how I feel at the time.

18. I’ve learned life is short. We have to make memories and take pictures along the way. One day we will look back on these pictures and tell the stories behind them to people that we love.

19. I’ve learned that when you are with your best friend(s) it doesn’t matter what you do. It’s always fun. You can sit and watch TV together and it’s a good time. And sometimes you revert back to the giddy ways of a teenager.

20. I've learned that it's taking me a lot longer than I thought to become the person I want/need to be.

21. I’ve learned even if think you have nothing left to give; you will be willing to give to a friend or family member in need.

22. I’ve learned even when you think you can’t keep going; you have to keep going. We are always glad we did even if we are just glad that it’s over.

23. I’ve learned that there are some people who love you who just don’t know how to show you. I’m not talking about romantic but family.

24. I’ve learned that being a grown up is way harder than it looked when I was growing up.

25. I’ve learned that my family members are truly my allies. They are among my best friends. I’m lucky to have them.

26. I’ve learned that it’s easy to give advice but hard to take it. Or if you’re me I give advice that I would never follow myself.

27. I’ve learned there are always going to be excuses and reasons not to do things. But if you’re smart you will live your life and get past these things.

And to make it 27 ½ I am putting one that I am still trying to learn. I’m learning that if you never act, you will never know.