23 Things I’ve Learned in 23 Years

Hello friends, how are you? I recently turned 23-years-old and honestly I wasn’t expecting to feel good about turning 23 — I quite liked being 22. But I’m lucky to have some pretty amazing people in my life that made me appreciate being one year older.

I feel blessed for how it was celebrated. My group of friends took the time to join me to my very first visit in Art in Island. I also received calls and lots of text messages with an occasional Facebook post greetings. These might be a simple gestures, but they made my heart happy for everyone’s love and care.

As I was thinking to create something as this new adventure of life begins. After much thought and help, I came up with a list of little nuggets of wisdom that stood out to me in my short lifetime. So here they are, hold on to your coffee mugs because this will take time!

1. If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no, and if you don’t try you’ll never know or if you never try, you’ve already lost.

This one actually hit me that hard from the past, especially in my work schedule that sometimes — I’m scared and anxious when I ask my employer to the things that I wanted to do. For I am always afraid to fail and to lose. You might be wondering why I put 3 items in 1 sentence since lots of people, I guess were scared that when we never even try we wouldn’t know things. But if we try, who would know that if this or that idea was the one that may changed our life. So, try. Ask. Speak up. We can do this!

2. Always take Calculated Risks in Life

One of the biggest lesson I learned from my previous years, especially the days when I started to venture the stock market. I nearly lost half of my savings because of an unintentional trade without realizing the risk I’m about to take. It was actually a big mistake, but finally improve my psychological and risk management state in the end. Life happens and you learn!

3. If it’s not a HELL YEAH, it’s always a no

Oftentimes, I’ve said yes to many things that I would’ve preferred to say no. By which the fact was one the life lesson I’m still working on. Remember that, every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else (for we cannot do both in one go).

Asked to go to a party you don’t really want to go to? Say no. Want to stay home and read a book rather than going out for drinks with friends? Say no.

If your response isn’t a HELL YEAH, say no.

3. People will never run out of opinions.

… and they will never be. This might be sucks especially that things are on pressure from my family, friends, career, and even in school. But one thing I keep reminding myself is that, the people out there will always have an opinion/s to whatever things that’s been happening and that is okay. Let them talk on your back and let life go with you. They are not your responsibilities and you cannot control them but your response will affect your well-being.

4. Always keep learning.

“The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you.”
― B.B. King

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Just because you might not be in school 24/7 doesn’t mean that there isn’t something to learn.

5. You are beautiful and no one can change that.

We ladies and gents are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14) and our soul knows it. Even if our face is meant to have pores, and a little bit of fat is normal; you need it to survive for we all matters to God!

6. Don’t judge others. Be kind instead.

Anyone else guilty about this? Well, actually I’ve done this before. It’s probably be our first instinct, but then again I do try my best to be a better person and try to stop my thoughts whenever I find myself judging others. For we all know that there’s so much happening in this world and I do not want to make it worse. Let’s all be kind to each other instead.

7. You will be the bad person in someones story.

This is one of my favourite I guess, HAHA! It becomes an important factor that plays in myself to what other people thought of me. Not to the things that I wanted to be like but because it is so important to me to make it clear that I am not a bad person who’s trying to hurt anyone else. Those may not be happening, but let us be reminded that you and I may not be liked by everybody and that is okay. As long as you know who you are and that’s the only thing that would matter.

8. Experience will give you knowledge on things you didn’t even know existed

9. Don’t stress too much. And don’t expect anything.

I decided to stop this habit of stressing things out. If there are things that doesn’t go to what I’ve planned, I keep being reminded to a Bible verse as it says

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6

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With that, I came to realized that I can control what stresses me out or what to expect but sometimes there has a lot of things that I shouldn’t be stressed out and let God do the rest.

Shout out to my constant reminder when things aren’t in place, especially when it comes to my mental state! Thank you Panda. 🥰

10. Be you. Be real. Be confident.

This is a game changer! Remember that you and I are great human creature. We all are, and that is important. We might messed up things but we aren’t perfect for there are so much many good things in all of us that we often hide because we are scared of what others might think of us. Remember: Be you. Be real. Be confident.

11. Know when to apologize and when not to apologize.

Sometimes sacrificing your pride for the sake of a relationship (familial, romantic or platonic) is more important than being right. Then, Know when to apologize and when not to apologize.

12. Even if it frightens you, do it anyway!

I’m learning this one every day, as I feel like the fear of failure often stops me from attempting certain things. I’ve never regretted trying something new that made my heart beat faster, but there are still things I regret never trying and it’s never too late too fix that.

13. Documenting everything for future

I started journaling and writing things about my day back when I was 13. All those things I’ve learned mold myself on how important it is to document everything that I do. In fact those things becomes a case study for me too, whenever I had anxiety attacks. As a record basis to the things, how I ease it or things the other way around. Not to mention I also added some notes online whenever I didn’t bring it with me.

14. Everything happens for a reason.

15. There is more to life than romance.

There’s nothing wrong being single I guess. Hahaha’ as you know from my previous years I shared things about my previous relationship. Just be reminded that, life is more to it. Date when you are ready and not when you’re bored. You may also want to wait to your God given spouse too.

16. Set SMART Goals

YA YA! I think everyone of us acknowledges how setting goals will help them in life but very few actually do it – and my past self are even guilty about it.

But things change now:

People with goals succeed because they know where they are going. It’s as simple as that

Earl Nightingale

I recently did the following strategy and a lot of things got cleared as I wrote down my goal on my journal and electronic notes. Whatever tasks that I did after that, I questioned myself. Is this task/work taking me towards my goal in any way?

If yes, I would do it. If no, I would skip that for later, or sometimes delete or crushing them out. Even I ignored goal setting and planning for my success before but trust me you will be amazed when things actually start making sense (while some don’t actually, hehe) after you set your goals right.

‘SMART’ Goal Setting Technique that I follow:

• Specific – (simple, sensible, significant)
• Measurable – (meaningful, motivating)
• Achievable – (agreed, attainable)
• Relevant – (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based)
• Time-bound – (Time-based, Time-limited, Time-sensitive)

One of my long term goal (at least for now):

I want to book a 3 day solo-flight in Taiwan by the end of March 2025 this is probably be by the end of my graduation

As you see it is – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-Bound!

And lastly,

“If you’re bored with life – you don’t get up every morning with a burning desire to do things – you don’t have enough goals.”

Lou Holtz 

17. Mentor is important in life

They say in your 20’s you are creating the life you wanted to be, but do we actually know where this life are going to be? This is the reason why I always felt the need of a mentor in life for we all have different goals and plans. As an aspiring entrepreneur, I have looked up to many entrepreneurs as a mentor online. Some on digital platforms, some offline but I never really figured out how to work with them.

But it was May 2020, I landed on a strange FB Group that endorsed a link to one of my mentor in trading. If you want to learn more about her you may visit her blog or the Facebook Group I’m in of you are interested when it comes to the Philippine Stock Market. Check out the blog here, and our Facebook Group here.

Currently, I’m learnings things around from her and keep on advancing some skills and tactics when it comes to the market. I may say that I am not the best but I am a work in progress state.

18. Not everyone will like you

Popularity should no longer be the measure of our worth. As long as you know that you are not harassing anyone, you will be fine. Do not allow yourself to become a garbage bag and don’t let their opinions paralyse you. Instead, kill them with kindness … after all you don’t need to like everyone too.

19. Appreciate the little things in life, because when it really matters, they’ll be all that matter

I feel like this couldn’t be more important at the moment when we are all learning that our lives can change from one moment or another. I’m learning that it’s the mundane of every day that really does keep us going.

20. It’s never too late or too young to be financially literate

“YOLO” may sounds cool, but it isn’t beneficial. Whatever age you are right now, start thinking about your savings and investments as early as now, so your older something-self will be very thankful. As a 20-something on my side, make it the best time to invest and use the power of compound interest.

21. There’s a significant power of fitness and health

I was always a skinny-medium type. I was actively participating in sports and fortunately, I haven’t come across any major health issues as of now, for I strongly believe in taking precautions rather than cure! Start forming some of the other fitness habits like one of my friend walks for 45 mins daily that now become consistent to her 1 hour workout. You don’t need to be a gym freak to get fit. Not to mention that our diet plays a role too. Just a normal one and little exercise can do the job (it also depends on how obese you are though) 😅

22. Be proud of yourself even if the achievement is so small

Even the most mundane accomplishments can lead ourselves to extraordinary places in life, which is why you should never underestimate yourself. As those accomplishments has led you to where you are today and that’s more than enough to be proud of.

23. Patience is a Virtue

I learned so much this thought from my parents and my employer as well, as as I grew older about being patient, humble, and honest. And even when the time I had with them is so limited, I still credit them for raising me to develop the awareness that I needed to be more patient with everyone and everything in my life. Not to mention that being patient in life will make you feel better, mentally and physically as you less assume things around.

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Ya! I know this seems like a lot to take in, but it’s my own little manifesto as I try my best and the hardest to follow every day. I believe in them with all that I have for without them, I wouldn’t be… me.

I’m so grateful for everything and everyone I’ve got in my life. Who is always with me, even on my worst days. For creating all those memories and for teaching me all the things I know today.

And thanks to myself. Just for being who I am, for knowing all the things I know today and because I’ll always keep going. Nobody ever says that out loud, but it’s important to say.

Cheers to a new year, new lessons, more love, more memories and more cake but less stuff.

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