1. Don't be jealous of others, instead work on being the best you can be.
I struggle with this a lot. I'll be Facebook stalking (per usual) and I see people who are going to grad school, landed an awesome job, got engaged, traveling the world, being with their boyfriends 24/7 etc. And sometimes i can't help but just wish my life would be just like theres. And then I go into this mind whirl of "Damn, I should have done that internship..." or "I should've studied harder and gotten better grades in college..." "& that's why I've got nothing going for me...."It's a constant battle and I'm finally just SICK of this negativity. I need to not wallow in others successes, but rather learn to, from the bottom of your heart, to be happy for them (unless they are a nasty person, then they can go screw themselves). Because if you can truly be happy for another person, you will feel 1000 times better than you would if you were to just sit here and bitch about how you wish your life was like theres. However, I think the most important part of all of this is to be the best YOU you can be. Don't compare yourself to others, because you will never be satisfied. Instead, set a goal, for yourself, and concentrate on that. I've learned with even the smallest details of my life, if I learn to love myself for who I am and what God blesses me with, I can live a very very VERY happy life. As my boy Will would say,
" Throughout life people will make you mad
Disrespect you and treat you bad
Let God deal with the things they do
Cause hate in your heart will consume you too"
2. Be Active. Don't be lazy.
Sometimes I just want to lay around the house, go on Facebook, watch a movie, sleep, and basically do nothing with my life. Although, this is really awesome when you've had a long day, you can't be doing this more often than you are not (if that makes sense). And honestly, it's not that hard. I always find it that the act of GOING to the gym/getting out of the house is the hardest part, and once you are out, you realize it's a piece of cake! SO I want to try to get off my ass more often, go out, and BE ACTIVE! I also am planning on doing this fantastic Lauren Conrad Bikini Boot Camp, feel free to join me! It's going to be tough but we can all motivate each other.
3. Kill people with kindness, because God is watching (in a good way!)
This is something that I've sort of picked up for a few years now. I first picked it up because I constantly found myself being disappointed in my friends because I felt like I did so much for them, yet I wouldn't receive the equivalent from them, and I just felt so unappreciated. I contemplated just being a mean bitchy person because what was the point? But after some deep talks with my mom and Nathan, I realized that was not the right way to live. So I've learned to just be kind, do things for the people I love with out being asked, and to not ask for anything in return. I firmly believe that if you do, even if that person you did a nice deed for doesn't do anything for you, some how that kindness/goodness will be returned back to you, in some shape or form because God is watching, and he's not going to ignore good deeds. I trust in Him. :)
4. Don't be discouraged if you start small, hard work WILL pay off.
So I got a job, a really AWESOME job, but it's not going to be paying TONS and I probably will have to pick up a 2nd job if I want to be living on my own soon. And yeah, it's kind of a downer when I see myself as a UCLA graduate, and not have some high-paying, super human job. But as a lot of my mentors have told me, it's NOT the end of the world. And as I look at it now, it really isn't. I've been given an opportunity to grow within a company, and although I'm starting from the bottom, AT LEAST I'm starting! And I am so excited for everything I will be learning in the business. And I think our society has been raised in this environment that pleads for instant gratification, when really, nothing that you get immediately, is actually worth it. Not just with a job, but even when it comes to fitness, I know for a fact I won't be seeing results in a week. It's going to take months to even see the slightest results, but I won't give up. Because by not giving up, in the end, I will see results and that day is going to be AWESOME!!!!!
5. Appreciate what you have.
I think so often we WANT too many things. Whether its the latest and greatest Mac product, or a boyfriend, or more money, whatever it is, it's not worth beating yourself up over. Rather, take a step back from your "crazy busy" life, and look at what you already have in possession. In my case, I have parents who, as much as I complain about them, pretty much do everything for me, a boyfriend who, although is thousands of miles away, treats me like a PRINCESS (spoils me to the core), friends who I can talk to about anything, a roof over my head, a college education, a positive attitude, a dream, and best of all, I've found love in more ways and forms than most people will ever in their entire lives. Whenever I feel like complaining (which we are human, it's weirder if you don't), I just remember and appreciate that long list of happinesses I have, and it makes me feel much, much better.
6. Be vulnerable.
The easiest way to live, is to guard yourself from any kind of painful experience, and live that okay "safe" life. But some of the best life lessons I've learned happened because I let myself be hurt. One of the biggest lessons I've learned is with relationships. Back in high school, I had a boyfriend who I believed that I was absolutely in love with. And with that, I decided that he was the most important person in my life, and I ditched all of my friends, to be with him 24/7. And guess what, he dumped me. And I remember as soon as it happened, I did not know who to lean on anymore. I had no one. And I felt a kind of loneliness that can only be learned through that experience. And after that, I vowed to never ditch my friends for a boy, because boyfriends will come and go (until you find a decent one ;)), but friends will/should be with you until the end. But, I wouldn't have understood any of this, until that one guy broke my heart. And as much as it sucked at the time, I am SO thankful for that experience because without that, I would not have realized how truly blessed I am to have the friends that I do. So let people hurt you. Let people inspire you. Let people need you. Let people love you. You will thank yourself later.
7. Admit it if you're wrong, and be willing to learn.
I've always acted like a know it all and I'm finally starting to see what a snob I sound like! And I think Nathan knows this best, but whenever I would say something distasteful or state the facts wrong, I would NEVER admit it. I'd just make up an excuse or just say, "whatever." Well guess what, it just makes you sound like a total BETCH. So when I'm wrong, I will admit it, even if it makes me feel so stupid. But instead of just feeling dumb, I want to be able to learn from my mistakes. Because even if you made that one mistake, at least you learned one thing new :)
8. Don't hate the ignorant, instead have the courage to teach them.
In college, I've heard some people make some of the most ignorant comments. There are so many social topics that in my mind, are super obvious, but to others, they have no idea. Things like, "You're asian, you should know." or "Internment wasn't that bad, it was a necessary evil." or people who use the word "Jap. and one that I've recently stopped using, "that's so gay." I could name a whole list of others, but you get the point. Instead of clenching your fist and puffing steam out of your ears, look at these people as students who need to be educated. These people may have said some cruel things, but at the same time, you have no idea where they came from. Maybe they were never given the opportunity to learn. Maybe they have a story to tell as well. So don't judge, but instead, have the courage to tell them another way to see the picture. You never know, maybe you'll change their mind about things. But as a disclaimer of sorts, not EVERYONE is willing to change. A lot of people will stay very stubborn about how they feel and that's when you just have to realize, "different strokes for different folks".
9. Take lots of pictures (and videos)
This one kind of seems silly, but I think years from now, I am going to be so happy looking at the 100's of pictures I have with all of my friends and family because it's how we'll remember things. But recently, I've realized, more than pictures, I LOVE watching videos (especially of me and Nathan) because we can see expressions, and verbal exchanges, and just us being us. Even if Nathan hates it, I will always have a video camera with me wherever we go!
10. Your life is going to change, revel in it.
Looking back in just the last 4 years of my life, there are SO many things that have changed. The things I expected to happen took a 180 degree turn. But at the same time, some of the most unexpected blessings have showed themselves into my life. One of the greatest quotes an amazing mother once told me was, "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans." And I've realized this statement couldn't be truer. Expectations are bound to change, but that's okay. Actually, it's better than okay, it makes life exciting. Friends will come, and friends will also go. So often I've had people in my life, who at the time, I thought were my BEST friends even future brides maids, but then a few months go by, and friendships dissolve, and then you realize you have no idea what they are even doing with their lives & that's OKAY. Because at our age, that's what happens. But in the end, the good ones will stay, and that's when you know who your true friends are. God has a plan for you, a pretty gosh darn good one, but you can't map it out, you just have to trust that He'll show you the right way. Life is full of walls and sharp turns. You'll be heading towards success and Bam you hit a wall. The key is to get right back up and take that left or right turn. And sooner or later, you'll look back at all your curvy path and thank God you never gave up.
So these are just a few things that I've thought of for myself, they may work for some others, may not. But these are some of the most important life lessons that I know I will carry on for the rest of my life. And maybe its the fear of the unknown that's making me write this essay of sorts, but who cares. It's something that will motivate me, and that's what I need most.
So so so much love and Semper Fi <3
No comments:
Post a Comment