23 Things I've Learned in 23 Years

Today is my birthday, so I decided to be completely original and tell you 23 things I learned in 23 years. Because no one has ever done that. Ever. Since the beginning of time, which started, like, ten years ago? When the internet was born? I’m rambling. Why don’t you just start reading the list? No, really, you should read it now. Why are you still reading this? Why am I still writing it? Anyway, here you go:

1. Humour is necessary if you want to survive life.
2. Education (like high school, college, university) is a good thing to have. It can be a helpful thing. You can learn many interesting and useful things. But it doesn’t necessarily teach you how to function in the world outside of academia.
3. Books are amazing.
4. Writing is my passion, and passions should be followed, as should dreams.
5. There will be days in life that are very dark. But they do not have to be forever.
6. It’s important to take care of yourself. Whether that’s physically, or emotionally.
7. Failure is not absolute. There is always tomorrow, or more importantly, right now.
8. Suicide is not a solution to problems, but rather, it’s continuing to run from them.
9. As much as one might want to hide from the world and romantically sleep in a corner of it while life passes by, it’s not possible to run from yourself.
10. That whole self-love thing, probably isn’t that bad of an idea.
11. If you want something in life, you need to work hard for it. It isn’t going to fall from the sky. Unless you want to find a meteor or something…
12. I’m not perfect. No one is. Nor do they have to be.
13. Exercise and eating right (as torturous at it is) is probably a good idea.
14. Sometimes things take time, and we need to be patient.
15. Money, while necessary for life, is not the most important thing.
16. Dogs or other pets are important to have. They bring joy and love into a family.
17. Not everyone is going to like you. No matter what you do.
18. Not everyone will agree with you, yet you can still get along with them and be friends.
19. We’re all going to die. And it can happen at any time. Even now.
20. Family is important.
21. Writing can be an escape to let out pain in a safe way.
22. Writing can also help one come to realizations.
23. Life has many ups and downs, but remember when the downs hit, the ups will always come back.

Photo Credit: Roberto Cacho Toca Zorionak! via photopin (license)