Today, it’s important to remember the little things that life offers, amid the chaos of life. This year has brought unexpected changes in our lives and sometimes we can feel like we are reliving the same day. Many times it feels like days have passed when it’s actually been a month.
I know a lot of us experience new things like a new way of learning, maybe a different way of working; Whatever. Here are 20 reminders that will help you see life in a different light and from a new perspective.
1. Take risks.
This doesn’t necessarily mean taking huge unreasonable risks like jumping off cliffs like the picture above. You can start small like getting out of your routine, getting out of your comfort zone. Try something new, try not to focus too much on one task. If you spend so much time on one thing, you are more likely to be overwhelmed and stressed.
It’s weird to say, but a pandemic really makes you reflect on your life.
Lately, I’ve been reminiscing about my past, and the only thing I regret is that I didn’t take any risks. I was not one to take risks and I really wish I had taken more risks.
Luckily, we’re in the middle of a pandemic, and while it can be scary, it’s a time when we can experiment and try new things. We’re in a new era, where we’re trying new things that we’ve never done before. Try a new style; take risks, get out of your comfort zone; does not conform to society.
2. Learn from your past.
A mistake or failure does not define who you are, it only affects who you choose to be. When you fail or make mistakes, you make the best of the situation and learn from it. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in life, I’m not a perfect person, neither are you. Don’t dwell on your faults that happen, don’t let yourself sink. Learning from your past is good for your future.
It makes you a better person mentally, emotionally and physically. It’s funny how when we look back at our past, we go over all the stupid mistakes we’ve made and the weird things we’ve done. Those little things we remember make us who we are today. Learn from your past, it’s a way to step back and see how far you’ve come. Learn from the past, don’t dwell on it.
3. Plan, but not too far
Planning is always good, but over-planning is too much. It’s normal not to know, especially what life might have in store for you in the future. Unexpected things happen in life and you can’t always plan for them. It is impossible to plan everything in life because as we grow up we become different people with different plans in mind. Your high school “game plan” won’t be the same after you graduate. Throughout college, I had a whole plan to focus on my studies and my plans for college. However, plans and even circumstances changed for me, and I had to circumvent my “plan” and come up with another one.
Now I don’t even plan that far because I know unexpected things happen that can’t be planned in advance. Take for example what we are going through. No one anticipated this, and unfortunately plans have changed for people going through major life changes like graduating from high school or college, or senior year. The plans we make are not eternal, they come true or not. Therefore we should use this as an opportunity to plan but not too excessively.
4. Laugh at your mistakes and failures.
Don’t confuse your mistakes with a failure. You shouldn’t be angry or disappointed by a mistake you’ve made, because believe it or not, we’ve all made it.
Instead, laugh at them, learn from them, and move on. Don’t take mistakes too seriously, they’re just stupid mistakes.
When I get overwhelmed or frustrated and think too much and make a mistake, I laugh. Sometimes stupid things get the better of us and we let them overwhelm us. You just have to laugh at life sometimes, it makes things easier.
We laugh when we fall, we laugh when we cry, so laugh at your mistakes. They make you a stronger and more determined person. Learn to laugh at your mistakes and failures.
5. Live in the moment.
Enjoy life while living it.
Going out with family or friends? Enjoy your time with them, don’t spend all your time on Instagram or Snapchat. Laugh together, play and talk together.
Sometimes we take it for granted that we spend time together, especially now. We’re limited on who we can see and talk to, and sometimes we remember a simpler time when we hugged and laughed at the funny things we did or said. It is better to enjoy every moment we have now than to reminisce later.
For me, I find it funny how we think back to moments in life and how they weren’t important to us then, but they matter so much now. I think back to some of the best memories I had with my friends and it wasn’t when we went out to eat or to the movies. It was when we were all hanging out at each other’s house laughing and talking. We enjoyed each other’s company, and the best part was that it wasn’t forced, it was unexpected nights and outings.
The best moments come from the unexpected.
6. Don’t “regret” a mistake.
Any mistakes made can be learned but should not be regretted.
When you make a mistake, it’s like starting a new path. Something as simple as one mistake can affect your entire life. How you read the last sentence determines whether you think it’s a positive or negative error. Making mistakes can affect you positively or negatively if you choose to view it that way. It all depends on what we choose to do with our situations and circumstances.
I don’t regret anything that’s happened in my life so far, whether it’s mistakes or decisions I’ve made, because everything that’s happened has made me the person I am. today. I choose to see this as something positive. Even if you can’t go back and change it, don’t “regret” a mistake or a choice you made, whether good or bad. Who you want depends on how you choose to view your choices and mistakes that helped you become the person you are today.
7. It’s OK not to always “agree”.
Some days we feel like crying, and that’s okay. It’s normal to have those times in life where we feel overwhelmed and anxious, it’s completely understandable even now.
2020 has been chaotic and messy. It’s okay when we’re not always well, because that’s what makes us human. The feeling of uncertainty is normal in life, and there is nothing to hide. It is important to take care of yourself and look after your well-being. We don’t always need to show others that life is great for us when in reality, we feel like it isn’t.
I find it very helpful to rely on others like friends and family to help you through the tough times that life throws at you. You don’t have to be or feel alone, because you are not. If you look around you might realize that many of us are going through the same thing. No one is alone when they “feel lonely” because other people may also be going through the same things as you. It really makes life better and a little easier when you find other people who are supportive and willing to stick with you no matter what.
8. Dress to impress yourself, not others.
In a society where we welcome differences, I’ve come to realize that we always try to act, behave and dress the same. What’s wrong with changing a little, getting away from the crowd? Why not be different? We tend to follow the same trends and fads until they are no longer popular. Dress, act, behave like yourself for you and only you, not for others. If others can’t see who you really are and they don’t seem to know your worth, why care?
I think it’s extremely important to stick with and make friends who accept you because you bring unique qualities to the friendship, you bring something different to the table that’s missing in that person’s life. Lately, we want to be with people who elevate our social status without even caring about the main reason behind true friendship. The things you wear, say and do should impress you, it should make you want to become an even better person.
9. Don’t take the little everyday things for granted.
Waking up, breathing, family, friends, everything I believe we sometimes take for granted. I know it sounds corny, but maybe we should take the time and appreciate what other people do for us. I know it’s easy to forget what others have done for us, like our parents and friends who are always there for us, because it’s a routine thing that happens by instinct. How many times have you actually taken the time to step back and thank and appreciate all the people who have been in your life so far?
It’s kind of hard to imagine our life without the people we surround ourselves with today. Life would be hard enough if it weren’t for those people in our lives who make it easier and less of a pain to go through. Don’t take the normal things in life for granted, because one day you might notice those things are gone. Appreciate the opportunities that life gives you.
10. Breathe
I know it’s easy to remember and super cheesy, but sometimes you forget to breathe.
When I mean breathe, I mean stop whatever you’re doing, no matter how stressful or difficult, and breathe deeply. Take a look around, don’t think of anything stressful or confusing, just breathe. It’s simple to do, but many of us just don’t “get the hang of it”. In fact, breathing helps you to have a fresh state of mind and relieves stress.
Remember to always breathe, no matter what situation you are in or how you are feeling.
