Life Lessons I Have Learned This Year // 2017

It's the very last day of 2017 so I think it's time to make room for new memories, new mistakes, new people. I want to sit down and re-live the past year in my head, putting together things that I have learnt this year.

1. The perfect partner does not exist.

Everyone makes mistakes and that's okay. Don't try to look for the "perfect" partner, there is no such thing. Don't try to change them for the better, they're the best just the way they are. If you want to change your partner so badly, think to yourself - are they even the one? What are you doing with them? You have to accept them, because you fell in love with them being how they are.

2. You create our own life.

Nobody else can change your life or your future, it's all about you. If you feel like your life is meaningless, then that's your own fault. Then you just gotta give your life meaning. 

You're not going to make a million just from sitting at home pitying yourself. You got to get off of your ass and do something! If you feel like you want to start reading books, do it. If you want to have friends, go out and find some. They're not going to come inside your house and ask you to be their friend. 

Don't wait on other people to give your life meaning or "save" you. Nobody can do that but yourself, so get up and work for it.

3. You have to be realistic.

Life is not a Hollywood blockbuster. You have to have a plan, you have to find out what you want in life and chase after it. Don't live your life thinking you''ll go to college, graduate, get an amazing job with a 5,000€ monthly salary, find the partner of your life and live happily ever after. That's rarely the case.

You will fail at some point, but that's just life. Don't let that stop you, know that it's normal and keep on going.

4. Before you speak, think. 

Don't always speak what comes to your head right away. Think about the things you want to say, think to yourself if they are even worth saying. Is it important? Does it help the other person? Or are you just going to hurt someone's feelings? If so, don't even bother.

You never know what someone might be going through, don't make their day even more miserable than it might already be. Instead, try a smile or any other act of kindness. Anyone that is having a bad day will appreciate a smile of a stranger, I know I do. 

If you're having a fight with your friend or partner, does saying what you want to make the situation any better? Or are you just saying it to hurt their feelings because they hurt yours? It's not worth it. Life is short and you might regret what you said. Words cannot be taken back.

5. Stop putting things off, do them now.

Better late than never? Well, not really. More like - If not now, when? 

We all like to put things off from time to time but in the end, more often than not we don't do it at all. So stop putting things off, do them now. Life doesn't wait for anyone, you have to live it and you have to do what you gotta do. Nothing comes from nothing! Work for it, do it. Now.

6. It's important to give back.

I know everyone likes to receive gifts from time to time, but honestly, giving back is much more satisfying. Especially in 2017 I learnt that giving back can be such a great feeling. I used to not want to spend money on anyone but myself, but it changed. Not only did I spend a lot of my hard earned money on my family and fiancé this year, but also occasionally I just had the urge to clean out my closet and donate to charity. 

I truly believe what goes around comes around. So if you do good, good will be done to you too.

7. Be thankful for what you have.

This goes kind of hand in hand with giving back, but being thankful is so important. Especially in times like these where there is war everywhere, millions of people having to leave their country because they are scared, innocent people getting shot at concerts or just strolling around the streets.

Be thankful for what you have, be thankful for the loving people around you and the memories you could already make with them. So many people don't have food, water, a warm bed or even a family. Don't take it for granted because it could be gone within the blink of an eye.

Appreciate what you have and realize how good you actually have it. Things could be so much worse.