My amazing sister, Ranjeeta Walia, turned 42 yesterday. As a joke, I asked her for 42 lessons she'd learnt along the way. As soon as she started spouting wisdom, though, I knew I had to capture these and share with a broader audience.
1. Never compromise on your core values/ principles
2. Always seize opportunities to grow and become a better human being. There’s always something to learn
3. Eat those vegetables/ aim for a well-balanced diet
4. Don’t be quick to judge others
5. Respect people irrespective of their age or position in life
6. Look after yourself mind, body, and soul
7. Cultivate relationships with people who love you for you/ people you can be yourself around and who are sincere with you
8. If you must have a life partner (not everyone wants one), take your time to find one who complements you. Remember you are already a complete human being on your own, so no one else can complete you
9. Don’t give unsolicited advice
10. Never miss an opportunity to brighten someone’s day
11. Our mission in life (indeed, our innate being) is about being happy so do what makes you happy as long as it does not hurt someone else
12. It’s never too early to learn about and apply knowledge of personal financial management so invest in this knowledge; financial independence is key
13. Invest in moments, not things. Material things just create clutter while moments are experiences that give you true happiness
14. Mental well-being is just as important as physical well-being and there’s no shame in seeing a therapist regularly
15. Read voraciously. It’s an easy and fun way to learn and grow
16. 7-8 hours of sleep regularly is important for one’s well-being and productivity
17. Cultivate and set aside time for your hobbies
18. Make time for close friends and family
19. Movement/ some form of exercise is a great way to improve your mental and physical well being
20. Spending time with pets (especially dogs) and nature is very therapeutic
21. Be there for your friends and family, especially in times of grief
22. Regularly donate to charity
23. There is a higher power/ being looking out for us
24. Some skills, e.g., changing a tire and cooking, are life skills everyone should know—irrespective of gender
25. Take some risks in life/ get out of your comfort zone once in a while; it helps you grow
26. Look for the lesson in hard times/ challenges
27. Try and spend time alone regularly
28. Never be ashamed or apologise for being yourself
29. Cultivate a practice of gratitude
30. Always look for the silver lining
31. Work at finding a balance in life; life is not just about work
32. We all make mistakes in life; learn to genuinely apologise and take responsibility for your mistakes as well as learn from them
33. Set an example for the next generation in your behaviour
34. It’s a good thing to have an opinion and never be afraid to express it
35. Emotional abuse is just as bad as physical abuse
36. Travel when you can. It opens your mind and is a great way to meet new people and experience different cultures
37. Always try and be kind, even when giving constructive feedback
38. Mean what you say and say what you mean
39. A genuine apology comes with changed behaviour
40. Anything that’s worthy in life comes with time and effort
41. Don’t be pressured by timelines in life—we all have different paths in this journey, so stop comparing yourself to others your age
42. Don’t lose that inner child. Children know what true happiness is and are not afraid to be themselves
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