37 things I have learned at 37:

• Be kind to yourself – at the very end, you will only have yourself on the way out. Make it a kind voice to listen to.
• Give with no expectation of receiving anything back and you will be blessed in abundance.
• It doesn’t matter how worldly successful you become – being humble is probably the main metric of success you should measure yourself to.
• Always be grateful. Gratitude is joy. You cannot experience delight with an ungrateful heart.
• There really is no other way to BE in this world than to be authentic. If your authentic self makes people uncomfortable, move on from them. Their chapter in your life story has ended.
• People all around the world are inheritably the same. Everyone appreciates kindness, friendliness, honesty and politeness
• When you mess up: Acknowledge it, apologize and try to make it right.
• Friends will come and go. If you find one friend who is truly on your side, you are very, very lucky. Hold on to that person for dear life
• At work: Give criticism where due, but never break someone down. Always find something to praise.
• When you have high standards for yourself, people will generally disappoint you easily. Keep in mind that this is your issue, not theirs.
• Self-awareness is one of the most beautiful gifts you can ever give yourself.
• Treat everyone with kindness and respect – even if you might think they don’t deserve it
• Happiness is a skill that you can learn & refine with practice. Choose to be happy. Choose it every time.
• Travelling the world will change you in a way that no one else can ever understand. Every time you come home from visiting another country, you will not see the same person in the mirror staring back at you.
• Negativity will get you nowhere. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Accept hardships and make the most of it.
• Be careful where you direct your thoughts and energy to. Being upset or negative will not change the situation you are in and you will only feel worse. Smile instead!
• People just want to be seen and acknowledged. Look strangers in the eye and greet them with a smile. Too often we treat others as if they are invisible.
• Your problems are small and insignificant – recognize your space in this big world.
• When you get the chance to build someone up – take it! You will also benefit from it. Show your gratitude. Say thank you. I love you. You are amazing – and mean it.
• Always learn. Always improve. Always grow!
• The more positivity you radiant out into this world, the better your life will become. You are your thoughts! If you choose to see doom and gloom everywhere, your life will become that.
• If one door closes, another will open. Trust me!! Believe in yourself and stay hopeful, always.
• Life is about unique perceptions – you can never really know what is going on in someone else’s head. Don’t even try to.
• Never, ever play the victim. You have the right to be upset when something bad happens to you, but don’t blame everything that goes wrong in your life on that
• Bad things happen to good people. It’s how you react to it that will matter the most. Never give your power away to rage.
• Be a good friend. Good friends are rare. Be that light in someone’s life.
• Stay fit and eat healthy – your body needs to carry you around for a long time & you want to enjoy the ride.
• Reflection is a wonderful tool. Use it. You cannot change what you cannot acknowledge.
• Always, always, always go for your dreams!
• Be aware of the effect you have on others and the environment.
• You are NOT your dress size, hair color or age. You are wonderfully unique & no one can ever be like you!
• It’s okay to be intense. You may feel everything more intensely than others, but that is what is magical about you. And who doesn’t want a superpower?
• You don’t have to explain your life choices to other people. If you are not harming yourself or others, it really is none of anyone’s business how you choose to live your short life.
• Don’t judge – investigate your inner self and ask yourself why a person or their behavior is bothering you. The answer will most likely lie within your own limitations.
• Work hard. Put in the hours. And do it with passion. Your career should be an extension of yourself – not a prison sentence.
• Don’t put up with people who abuse you, use you or who don’t acknowledge your worth.
• Life is extremely short and fragile – be aware of your mortality and live accordingly. We all have an expiration date. It’s the in between that matters.