It’s my 25th birthday. In no particular order, here are 25 things I’ve learned over the years.
25. Everyone has a purpose. People come and go. It’s best to accept the lesson or the blessing they bought and move on.
24. Never miss an opportunity to be better. We have the potential to do great things, but if we remain stagnant, that potential is wasted.
23. Take care of our bodies. There are so many physical benefits that come from exercising, but mentally, it’s on a whole other level. Invest in your body. It’ll pay off.
22. Learn how to take hints. 70% – 90% of communication is nonverbal. Tune in to what’s happening under the surface, and things will improve for everyone.
21. Be present. Most opportunities I’ve gotten in life have come from doing stuff. Being present leads to meeting people, which in turn leads to unimaginable opportunities.
20. God’s timing is perfect. What is yours will come when you’re ready to receive it. Don’t be discouraged by the waiting. It’s part of the process.
19. Recognize when you’re wrong. Accountability is key. The inability to put our egos aside and admit we’re is alienating.
18. Always try to make things right. Depending on the situation, atonement could be necessary to move forward.
17. Give every stranger a baseline of respect. Don’t judge a book by its cover. You never know the full story.
16. Do what is needed to make the world better. There is more to life than living for oneself. Collectively, we have the power to change the atmosphere of any environment, turning chaos into order.
15. Understand that nobody is perfect. We are all human. We will make mistakes. Forgive and move on.
14. Never dominate a conversation. Letting others be as active in the conversation usually makes them like you more.
13. Be honest. Try always to tell the truth. It might not always be the easiest thing, but it’s the right thing, no matter how uncomfortable it might be.
12. Do what is interesting. Humans thrive off of entertainment, particularly at work. If you are not doing something that has your attention, you will be miserable.
11. Make the most out of the opportunities you’re given. God’s timing is everything. If an opportunity presents itself, do what you can to make the most of it. On the other hand, if you have to chase something, maybe it’s not meant for you, or at least not at that moment.
10. Learn from the past. There is wisdom in every situation we are placed in. Use it moving forward.
9. Don’t live in the past. Whatever has been done is over. Set the regret, anger, or other negative feelings aside and keep moving forward. Don’t allow it to weigh you down.
8. Respect Yourself. Some situations will call for you to compromise your morals but don’t do it. It’ll keep getting bigger and bigger until you’re an entirely different person.
7. Know when to fight. The most important things in life are worth fighting for. Identifying them is critical to living the best quality of life possible.
6. Know when to walk away. Not everything is worth fighting for, especially when what you’re fighting for is bad for you.
5. God is always with us. Our Creator has not left us alone in the darkness. I view God as a spiritual GPS, guiding us exactly where we need to be when we need to be there. Tap in and align with God’s plan, life better with Him in it.
4. The quality of life experienced is a reflection of what’s going on in one’s mind. With a good mindset, you can enjoy life and see the good in life. With a bad mindset, your vision will be clouded with what is wrong and what can go wrong, and life will be a lot less enjoyable. Take the filters off and be grateful.
3. Never take a situation for granted. We go through all sorts of diverse situations, and while some may be more enjoyable than others, it’s worth taking a step back and just experiencing what the situation brings.
2. Manage expectations. Sometimes we rely on others, creating expectations that, when they fail to meet, we get disappointed. Life gets busy for everyone, and you can be dealt a bad hand. But don’t allow what’s going on on the outside to affect you on the inside. Things may not go the way you would like, but ultimately you are responsible for your happiness.
1. A relationship with Jesus saved my life. Before meeting Jesus, I thought I was a good person. To me, that meant doing whatever I wanted as long as nobody else was hurt by it. This led to drinking, drugs, sleeping around, and things that felt good at the moment but could not replace what I was missing. Jesus met me when I needed Him the most. Feeling dead inside, like all hope was lost, until I was called. It took months to realize who was calling me and years to answer that call. Thankfully, by the grace of God, He has never given up on me, sharpening, refining, and shaping me. Without Jesus, I would still feel dead, but He pulled me out of that life and got me back on track to be the man I was created to be.
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