les rites de la vie

25 Life Lessons from a 25 Year Old

• 1: You’re the only person who cares completely, totally, 100% about you.
• 2: But that doesn’t mean it’s okay to be selfish and self-centered. Selfishness isn’t a good look for anyone.
• 3: Your only purpose on this earth is to leave it a little better than you found it - a little bit cleaner, a little bit happier, a little bit healthier, a little bit more beautiful.
• 4: It doesn’t matter how fit you are, how much money you have, how many friends you have, or how good you think you look, “if you can’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else?“
• 5: The world is full of beautiful people – and you’re one of them.
• 6: When you get there, remember where you came from. My dad got me a small sign with that phrase on it several years ago to help remind me of my upbringing and the life I had growing up. I’ll never forget my parents, my grandparents, my hometown, and the place and people that shaped me.
• 7: You didn’t get here on your own. It’s very rare that a person accomplishes something, anything, without help, guidance, support, influence, or encouragement from someone else. Be it a teacher, parent, friend, faith leader, coworker…there are other people responsible for your success. Don’t forget them.
• 8: Get, be, and stay creative. Don’t think you’re creative? Fake it ’til you make it.
• 9: Be in every moment without judgement. Stop spending your time judging those around you or the activities you’re doing. Live your life without judgement of yourself and those around you and fully experience every moment.
• 10: Do all the good you can, in all the places you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways you can, for as long as you can. I found this quote, a paraphrase from John Wesley, written in the front of my grandmother’s dictionary after she passed away. My nana, one of the most important and beautiful ladies in the entire world, spent much of her time doing word puzzles and always had her dictionary by her side. After she passed we were looking through the book and found quotes, notes, and more she had written over the years. This was my favorite.
• 11: Bitterness isn’t a cute look for anyone.
• 12: You’re not meant to be friends with everyone. Once you realize this, you’ll save yourself a life full of drama, pain, annoyance, and bullshit. Can you still be cordial and nice to everyone you meet? Of course (and you better be)!
• 13: Normal is just a setting on a washing machine. Stop trying to be “normal.” Stop trying to be like other people. Be weird; cooky; crazy; odd. Celebrate your differences. And stop judging people who do the same.
• 14: Life is full of contradictions. Be ready to adapt and change.
• 15: Stop taking everything so seriously. That test you just failed, that work project you just got ripped a new one on, that contestant that just got eliminated from your favorite reality show – it’s okay. Life goes on. It’s not going to matter in a year. Just be happy you’re here.
• 16: Stop pretending like mental health isn’t a part of your actual health. For yourself and those around you – mental illness is a real thing. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, don’t be embarrassed to talk about it, and always be ready and willing to listen.
• 17: Sex is great. It’s not shameful, embarrassing, or taboo. It’s also not the be-all-end-all. It doesn’t equate to your level of attractiveness, your ability to maintain a relationship, or how good you are at loving yourself or someone else. Don’t worry about having too much or not enough.
• 18: Money’s nice…when you have it. Otherwise, don’t stress about it.
• 19: Be positive! Always. Think positive thoughts. Surround yourself with positive people. Read positive things.
• 20: Mindfulness is a secret ingredient of happiness. Life is meant to be savored and enjoyed. It’s okay to take your time, eat slowly, sip your wine, meander in your favorite shop, go on a slow stroll through the neighborhood. Stop and smell the flowers, for god’s sake!
• 21: Self-loathing, self-deprecation, and pity parties aren’t cute. Just don’t do it. Stop it. Do any of those things really make you feel better? No. Do any of them make people like you more? Hell no.
• 22: Unplug! This is one I’m not good at…I’m constantly connected to twitter, Facebook, Instagram, tumblr, texting, e-mails, blogging, and on-and-on. At a certain point it’s unhealthy. It’s bad for your social life. It’s bad for your eyes. It’s bad for your posture. And we’re all going to have carpal tunnel syndrome by the age of 29. It’s okay to leave the phone at home, stay away from Facebook for a day, and not have to Instagram every meal. I also realize I need the lesson more than anyone.
• 23: Your parent(s) / grandparent(s) / brother(s) /sister(s) / aunt(s) / uncle(s) / cousin(s) love you, stop complaining about them. Okay, okay, maybe you don’t have a great relationship with some, any, or all of these people and I respect that. BUT, if you do have a good relationship with them, let them love you, love them back, forgive the things about them that annoy you. So your grandpa’s a little racist – get over it. Your uncle is always talking about Obama and his communism and you think he’s crazy; woopty-freakin’-do, he’s a good man who loves you and your family, stop being so damn judgmental. Here’s something I hate to break to you: not everyone you meet in the world is going to think, feel, and act the same as you - that doesn’t mean they’re bad people.
• 24: You are no better than anyone else. We’re all human. We all have our faults and our successes. We are all great at some things and terrible at others.
• 25: Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better. It’s my daily mantra. I say it to myself every morning and night. And it’s true. I’ll be better tomorrow than I was today. And I’ll be even more thankful for having another day to learn, grow, and change.

rayne days: The Game Of Life: 20-Something Edition

11 Questions Every Twenty-Something Needs to Ask

sharingpostgrad:

“What now?” is the question that plagues us in our 20′s like chickenpox. The more we scratch, the worse it itches. The overwhelming vagueness of “what am I doing with my life?” crushing us like the bully who sat on our head in 3rd grade.

Our 20′s can feel like being smothered in questions, but if we don’t ask the RIGHT questions, then we’ll forever remain stuck.

After years of struggle, studying, searching, and being un-glamorously squashed over and over again, here’s what I believe are THE 11 QUESTIONS every twenty-something needs to ask to be successful.

1. Do the people I’m surrounded by bring me life?

Are your friends taking steps forward or are they still playing beer-pong in the basement? Do you leave hanging out with friends feeling anxious or alive? Are your friends anvils tied around your ankles or jet-packs helping you fly? Your life will resemble the lives of your closest friends — does that fact excite you or freak you out?

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Twenty-What?: Thoughts You Might Have on Love

First, second and third date in Estonia

estonianmoments:

Estonian girl describes herself

estonianmoments:

Yes, I am.