what i learned from 2024
use the nice things. wear the expensive stuff, eat the good food. we always tend to wait for "the right moment" to enjoy things cuz we feel like certain moments are too ordinary for us to wear those expensive shoes or to use that luxury skincare, but this is YOUR life and those are just things, every single moment should be extraordinary simply because you are alive.
Consistency. being consistent as a person, especially when you show up for yourself consistently, it's a sign of respect, and it is the ultimate form of self-love. you love yourself enough that you will consistently choose the right thing for your body, for your mind, and your relationship. you don't have to do it every day and every hour, but you do need to be consistent, that is the only way to guarantee outcome.
Do it, get started. There is no right time, there is no perfect day, it's not after that project, it's not gonna be after your birthday, it's not gonna be until you earned a certain amount or after you reach a certain level at work. What you want and what you need to do to get it, you already know, you just have to do it now and get started. No what ifs, no waiting, yes to planning but no to 'waiting for the right time'. The best time to start was yesterday, but the next best time is always now.
Stop having conversations that never happened. Our biggest enemy can also be our own mind sometimes, we overthink, we fill in the gaps of others' silence, we have conversations in our heads with ourselves, dissecting the patterns and predicting outcomes. Which 80% of the time does not happen exactly the way we thought it would, for better or for worse. the best conversation to be had involving another person is WITH the person and not with the scenarios you have in your head. things are really just as it is sometimes.
character is what you do when you are alone in the dark. we all have values we hold dear to our heart, we grow, and we evolve, we may not hold the same opinion we did 5 years ago before the pandemic happened. What you believe about commitment may not be the same as when you were 21 and in a long-term relationship. what you believe about health may not be the same as after you got your diagnosis at 30. however, all the things you've experienced in life is what made you, you. It built your character brick by brick and to know oneself is to know the universe, it's a privilege to know your own character and to have such strong values.
hold space for people you care about, it means the world to them, and it means even more to you. i love my friends with all my heart, I've always done so but in 24 i was very intentional with a lot of my relationship. i do things cuz i wanna and cuz i love them so, so much. unconditional love, and i do not expect anything in return, because genuine love is free from outcomes and expectations. the relationship will balance itself, especially if two people genuinely care for one another.
to love is to not possessed. i've been living by this one particular quote in the second half of 24. it is my home screen wallpaper. love is not meant to be possessed, it's not meant to own. it's to be enjoyed and appreciated. we are blessed to have loved and been loved.
be present, you are alive. practicing yoga and pilates has led me to this conclusion even more in 24. being present in the moment that you are experiencing it. You may not remember it, or be able to recall it fully but when you are in a moment where you have a sense of gratefulness, acknowledge it. Observe it, observe how the temperature change, how the person you are with laughs, and their tone and their facial expression. Observe the weather, acknowledge your feelings be it shocked, sad, grateful, excited. You are alive and you are living.
Being intentional. Whatever you decide to do and pursue, be fully aware that it is a decision and a choice that you make. You need to be clear with your intention, the outcome may differ, you may not be able to even predict the outcome to the tea. But your intention matters. your intention does not have to be clear to all parties involved, but it needs to be clear with YOU. There's no guilt, resentment or regret if you are intentional with how you choose to live life.
Be open to possibilities. For me, readiness is not a state of being, and it is too subjective to even put it as a pre-requisite for anything in my life. Readiness in a project is one thing, there are SOPs that you can follow to proceed to the next step and even with that, things can still have a different outcome. Hence, for me being open to things is more reassuring. I am open for deeper connections, I am open for endings, I am open for changes. Will I ever be ready? Maybe, maybe not. I don't wanna live life in "maybes" so yeah, I am simply, OPEN.
