24 LESSONS LEARNED

I love reading the lessons people write when celebrating anniversaries, so I decided to
try one myself. Here it goes.
The 24 lessons I have learned living on this earth as a Christian, daughter, sister, and
friend are:

1. The only constant in this life is God: On days when I wanted to be alone and not
engage in any form of interaction because I could not figure out what was wrong with
me, the shoulder I could rest on was God. Even when it feels like everyone you love
is gone, God remains.

2. Family is important: Have you ever felt you do not have people on your side? No
matter the turn you take, you feel all alone. On those days, I remember my family.
Family is not always made by blood ties; they are people that always have your back,
the people that love you more than you love yourself most times, the people who
believe in your work more than you believe and the first people to see the light in you.

3. Smile: When you do not know what to do, when you are trying to grasp a situation
and when it looks blank, smile at yourself, smile at your friends, and smile at
strangers.

4. Follow peace with all men: This is one of the hardest things I must confess, and I
have not even mastered it, but if you want to live a life of peace, you must be at peace
with all men (Not by power, not by might but by the spirit). The mistake we make is
we think we are doing it for others, but the truth is you are doing it for yourself.

5. Trust is not to be bestowed on just any random person: I knew this early but later
forgot and was betrayed. I love having good conversations and love a person who can
tell good stories, but not everyone with such qualities has my best interest at heart.
Some people are entertainers to you but waiting for an opportunity to pounce. Be
careful who you trust.

6. Be optimistic: The way life presents itself sometimes, we might be tempted to give
up, but tell yourself it will be fine when it does not feel like it can save you. It saved
me.

7. Love is not understood by reading and watching movies: The books and movies
end when there is a happily ever after. You are shown a happy couple, and God helps
us if they give a hint about how they got there. People tell their stories and how they
got where they are, but listening, understanding, and being happy for them does not
beat the experience. The stage of what should I do now? Am I making the right
decision on this? Are you sure I should back out now?
Lord help us find the right partner.

8. Movies, music, and books are weighty: I always tell myself this but fall victim
sometimes, so imagine someone who does not know this. The kind of movies I watch
and the books I read are food to my mind. It is garbage in and garbage out. They
influence my character, the way I talk, the way I empathize with people, and a whole
lot.
9. Be selective about the preachers you listen to: Just like point No. 8, this point will
influence your spiritual growth. Be careful who you listen to and follow. Real
preachers are gospel preachers. A sermon never goes wrong when every word leads to
the gospel message.

10. I am the only one capable of limiting myself: Everything is out there for my
possession, so I should go out and possess.

11. Never fight what you do not understand: This was tough on me because this
particular phase was influencing me more than I could understand, and yet I kept on
hitting the air instead of a target, so rather than fight, I let love live. It is still tough to
resist fighting but by the spirit.

12. You will always meet good people: Whenever I travel to a new place, my fear is
meeting good people that are like me and will understand me. But the move brought
new memories and good people into my life.

13. Always exercise and eat healthy: If you take care of your spiritual being,
emotional being, and psychological being, then your physicals should also be
prioritized. It is hard, especially when you do not have an instructor who will push
you, but if you can get a partner for home exercises, it will be easier. Remember not
to eat more calories than you burn.

14. Save and Invest: I know we have heard this a lot from people, but I learned not
just to save but have a title for my savings. Usually, I save and invest a percentage of
my money, but when I do not have a title, I am likely to use it for any emergency.

15. Dress well and smell nice: No matter how you decide to stay inside your house, it
is up to you, but whenever you go out, let it be your priority to look good and smell
good. I am more likely to be attracted to a guy from far who has his hair neatly done
and cloth looking good then up close, his scent is sweet to my nose. As a woman or
man, look good and smell good.

16. Clean your apartment and dry your clothes: Yes, I learned this too. You never
know who will visit your home so keep your apartment neat. Put trash in the trash can
and wash the plates in your sink. Laziness has never helped.

17. Treat people with respect: This can be really hard when you are having a tough
day. One way to follow through is to be conscious of people and have compassion.
Your day is hard; someone else also had a rough day, so we can make it better for
each other by helping out. I learned, and I am still learning to not transfer aggression.
In the case of people undeserving of respect, do not do anything you will regret later

18. Go shopping: Some people say shopping is therapeutic, but I only love shopping
for new clothes, shoes, and bags. I am not so much in love with grocery shopping. I
learned to go out and shop and never be afraid to be indecisive.

19. Be a cheerful giver: When it is in your capacity to give, do well to make it happen.
Now, this is therapeutic for me. It puts me on a high because it is a situation of the
person not expecting it and you not knowing you are capable of such an act till you
have done it.

20. Learn about yourself: This is the key for you. You may not know everything, but
knowing the basics can save you from a life of the unknown. You have a better
chance of standing up for what you believe.

21. Build convictions: When you learn about yourself, take your time to build
convictions. Having a spiritual and moral stance is crucial; we have a lot of
convincing people who will want to turn you against your belief. They might even
call you old school, insult you, and whatever, but when you build these convictions,
they will be a shield.

22. Do not be afraid to learn new things, unlearn and relearn old things: This is a skill
to master so, you stand out. You will be able to ask questions with a genuine hunger
for knowledge.

23. Do not be afraid to dream: Your dream might look insane even to you because of
where you are now, but if God has said it, then he will do it. When has He ever lied or
failed?

24 Know thyself: Every point is important, but this is real. You can be tempted to act
according to how someone wants you to or break your convictions to fit a person’s
perspective. Please, do not succumb because after all is said and done, you will be left
alone with your broken convictions, days of regrets, and bad memories. Do not bend
for anybody but yourself.