Sweet Sixteen: 16 Life Lessons Learned

This post is actually very late, as my birthday was on August 5th.

But, hey! Better late than never, right??

(This post is going to be lengthy because I have a lot to write about, so maybe grab a snack or a drink before starting to read this!)

1) Be friends with only those who would defend you in a room you aren't in.

If your friends won't be able to defend you in conversations you aren't in, sorry to say, THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS! A true friend will never let anyone, for that matter, disrespect you or shame you over your behaviour, habits, or the way you are! If a person isn't defending your name, they might as well talk trash about you.

2) Being judgmental isn't wrong

Being judgmental is a natural part of human instincts, helping all of us analyse into our surroundings and, most importantly, people, because there is no other animal as dangerous as a human being.

3) You don't need to have it all figured out

This is literally so important! All my school life, I felt like I wasn't doing anything well; I'd always compare myself to those who "had it all". But then came a time when I realised that comparison is the thief of joy! After I stopped forcing myself to have it all figured out, I finally started growing in aspects I couldn't before

4) Quality>>> Quantity

This is the ultimate rule for almost everything! In friendships, it's never about how many friends you have, but the depth of the connections that truly matter.

5)Trust your gut and instincts more than your heart and mind because your soul knows better than both

Sometimes, I get strange feelings about certain people, even if everyone else seems to like them. At first, I can't explain it, but I trust my instincts and keep my distance. Later, when something happens to show their true colours, it feels like an "I told you so" moment. So, I've learned to always trust my gut feelings.

6) Never give up or stop believing in something that was meant for you

The only reason there's a dream or goal in your mind is because it was meant to be achieved by you! The moment you stop believing in it is the moment from which the dream or goal is no longer yours. So, always and always believe that you are worth it!

7) What they hate in you is missing in them

If someone hates the way you talk, behave, or even express- they are almost always jealous of that characteristic. I have been told a lot of times by people, or heard people say, that I show off about the fact that I'm good at talking or my way of behaving. 

Whenever something like this happens, I say "Ah! Fan theories and opinions! I'm honoured"

8) Your comfort zone is the cause of your downfall

If I had never left my comfort zone(for good), you wouldn't be reading this post. When I say this, I mean it 100% because almost everything I'm doing right now in life is because I left being comfortable and content without growth in life!

9) It's always Me vs Me

You must have come across people or posts on social media saying "Comparison is the thief of joy"- IT IS 100% TRUE!

I used to compare my grades, attitude and situation with those of people who I thought had it all together. But, let's be honest, nobody has their life together (at least not when they are teens!) The day I stopped thinking about other people's success and comparing it to my failures, I started getting better grades, accepted myself for who I am, and realised that my situation doesn't match theirs because we don't live the same lives! Always look back and appreciate yourself for who you've become now!

10) Self Respect ≠  Ego or Attitude

I often get called having a "lot of attitude" for not talking to certain people or for refusing to do things that don't match my values. It seems people often mistake self-respect for ego or attitude just because they disagree with me.

11) The right doors won't open for you until and unless you are the version of yourself that's supposed to walk through them.

Last year, I didn't get a position in the student council for "I don't know what reason". But, now that I look back at it, I realise that it was for the best. I was going through a lot at the time because of study, extracurriculars, etc. However, this year I was finally ready to accept the responsibility mentally (even though this goal was no longer on my vision board, hehe). This situation is the best example for working on being the version of you that's fit to enter the life you are working towards!

12) Know your Worth!!

DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS! I've had my share of bad and irrational friends and people around me, and I can assure you that being with them will not only ruin your mental health but will also make you be blinded by their words. Never ever hang out or interact with such people, because you don't have anyone else to talk to. Like, be alone instead, it's healthier than being in a place that doesn't value you for who you are.

13) Take time to know people

Taking time to know people can lead to deeper and more meaningful relationships. Because many times we become close to people we met just a while ago, without even analysing their personality or hidden intentions. I have made this mistake a lot of times, so please don't trust people you have just met because they seem sweet and trustworthy. I'm pretty sure they aren't!

14) Fear Stops Everything

Fear of judgement, fear of failure, fear of being wrong......

There are way too many to list! We all have had our share of them, but they are the cause of being judged, being a failure, or being wrong- the fear is so set into your belief system that it manifests into your reality.

15) Remember the Disrespect

If anyone disrespects me, they no longer exist for me.

I don’t hold grudges, but I never forget the disrespect. It shows me who truly values me, and who only values what they can get from me. Always remember that respect isn’t requested twice.

16) Stop chasing something that's clearly running away from you

I've tried to fix some of my previous friendships, but I always wondered why they weren't willing to be fixed. Let's just say it wasn't a part of the universe's plan!

HAPPY SWEET SIXTEEN TO ME!!