25 Things I have learnt up until my 25th Birthday

I am 25 today, and have had time to reflect on my life and have put together some of what I have learnt so far in this journey called life.

1. Life is very, very, very unpredictable. This year has been full of them...
   
2. It doesn't matter the amount of friends you have, its the quality of those friends that matter.
   
3. Oh and the school friends you said you would be best of friends after school finishes... Yer. That hardly every happens, Though there are the few good friends that do stick through thick and thin. And those are the ones worth keeping.
   
4. You are you you hang around. I know I tend to change my personality, language, and mannerisms depending on who I am with. This can be seen both positively and negatively.
   
5. Without a long-term vision, you are just running around like a headless chook. (I still haven't decided what I want to do).
   
6. If you do work full time, you spend more time with your colleagues than you do your own family. So learn to get on with them, and create a fun, exciting, and of course productive environment.
   
7. Money is not everything. However it does pay the bills...
   
8. Learn to stop, rest, and relax. I have time and time again pushed myself to the point I burn out, become run-down and sick.
   
9. People's world view's change overtime. It's a fine line between being stuck in your world-view for the sake of tradition (e.g. its what my parents believed, so that's what I believe), and being swept up in the current trends, dogma, or conspiracy theories.
   
10. Being Single is not the end of the world... Enjoy it while it lasts, have fun. Don't get into a relationship for the sake of being in a relationship.
    
11. The relationship you have with your true friends does not change with time, distance, or with difference of opinion. And if it does, then they are not true friends.
    
12. You can love your family, hate your family, but in the end they are still family. And whether you choose to interact with them, that will not change.
    
13. Live within your means. Spending your money on the latest trends, gadgets, accessories, car's is not going to be beneficial in the long run... and I have had to learn this the hard way.
    
14. Be humble. (Being boastful, proving your right or showing off just makes you look like a jerk).
    
15. Learn to say NO... I am still learning this one.
    
16. Throwing tantrums like a child when you are in your mid-twenties (even in your teen), is ugly, manipulative, and immature, if life doesn't go you way... so what... get over it. (those who I have lived with will know that this has been a big struggle to work through :p).
    
17. There is always music to suit your mood, but for your own sake, try to listen to more positive music as negative/depressing music will only drag you further down.
    
18. My happy place is at the theater watching musicals, hate that it just so expensive.
    
19. I love to travel, (don't get locked down too early, experience life, the world, the culture, and the people. There is a lot to explore).
    
20. Make time for both your friends and family, but also for yourself, and don't feel guilty (I refer back to point 8 and 15).
    
21. You have no one else to blame but yourself where you are today. And you are the only one that has the choice to either continue that life or change it.
    
22. Telling the truth (and not holding on to secrets) can hurt. But it's only a flesh-wound compared to the damage a lie can do to yourself and to others.
    
23. No one can replace Mum, No one will love you like your Mum. Mum will always be Mum and is the closest thing to agape love.
    
24. Know what the 5 love languages are, what yours are and what the love languages are in others... It will save so many relationships in a world where there are more divorces than ever before (refer to www.5lovelanguages.com/).
    
25. You only life once, so make the most of the time you are given. You don't know when that time will end, but do you want to get to the end of your life and be full of regrets and realise you never made a difference, stood for something or changed someone's life...