22 Years, 22 Pearls of Wisdom
Age 1: Enjoy the little things. Sometimes they’re all you have.
Age 2: Everything has a purpose, even if you don’t understand it.
Age 3: Believe it or not, your parents really do want the best for you.
Age 4: Siblings may resemble the devil incarnate, but you still have to deal with them for the rest of your life, so you might as well remain on good terms.
Age 5: Treat each person you see today as if you’ll never see them again. It may be true. Then again, sometimes life throws you a curve ball…
Age 6: Everyone was born with a set of unique talents and abilities. Some will be more obvious than others, and some people will learn about their talents earlier than others. It’s not what your talents are, but how you use them that makes all the difference.
Age 7: Everything has a purpose, even if you don’t understand it.
Age 8: Some people have oversized egos. They may be intimidating at first, but don’t worry — deep down inside, they’re just insecure, and possibly even jealous of you. They will never admit this.
Age 9: You can’t judge a book by its cover. You can’t judge people by their looks, either. But you still do, whether you realize it or not.
Age 10: Just because other people like to boast doesn’t mean they enjoy you doing it. Keep your head to a respectable size, and you’ll make more friends.
Age 11: Stand out in the crowd, and people will look at you. They’ll probably laugh at you. But rest assured that at least a few people out there want to join you. Groupthink may prevent them from actually doing so, but someday, they will be brave enough to stand on their own. Until then, it’s up to you.
Age 12: Sometimes, it’s just not meant to be. Don’t let that get you down. There’s always a good reason.
Age 13: If you don’t like the system, don’t fight it directly. You don’t have the strength to win. Follow it, fly under the radar, climb the ladder… then use your influence to change the system from the top down.
Age 14: You are simultaneously more popular and less popular than you realize… especially when it comes to the opposite sex.
Age 15: Everyone is worth your time, but you may be better off spending that time doing different things with different people — like introducing them to somebody else and politely excusing yourself.
Age 16: Don’t act righteous, even if you are. People hate that. Instead, learn to be a good friend and forget about being judgmental. In the long run, it’s your own mistakes that will be most damaging.
Age 17: People you met many years ago will spontaneously reappear in your life in very unexpected ways. However, they will be radically different, perhaps almost unrecognizable (in looks and personality)… as will you.
Age 18: You remember what you learned back when you were three? Well, your parents may want the best for you, but that doesn’t mean they never make mistakes. Someday, you’ll make mistakes as a parent, too. But if you can avoid the same mistakes your parents made, your children will be marvelous people.
Age 19: Act your age. Nothing gives you the right to complain about your life to everyone in the vicinity. If you’re carrying baggage, there are plenty of people out there who would be glad to help unload it… but you’ve got to ask first.
Age 20: Change is what life is all about, so get used to it. It’s great to remember the past, but dangerous to cling to it.
Age 21: At age seven, you learned that everything has a purpose. People have purposes too, and what’s depressing is that most of them don’t even know it. It’s easier to learn than you might think. Here’s a hint: The day you’ve stopped learning and growing is the day you’ve gone down the wrong path.
(Almost) Age 22: Thinking for its own sake is fruitless. Sometimes, the soundest decisions are made on a whim. Emotion is rooted in reason, but reason is emotionless. Follow your heart, or you’ll end up regretting it.
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