So guys 2018 is around the corner, and you know what this means..a fresh start, a new set of rules of life to live by, new resolutions and all that. For me, this time of the year is usually for an evaluation of some sort, so I had to sit down with the lessons I have learned from 2017, as a way of prepping for 2018. In no particular order I've itemized them below;
Say NO sometimes:
As a person, I hate saying no, and there are people out there always willing to take advantage of that.
I feel sorry for others less fortunate, and I put myself in their shoes and think, “How would I feel if they told me no?” I wouldn’t like it, so it's hard for me to say it.
Good friends are hard to find, so when you find them, hold on tight:
Like it's often said, some friends are more than family. Friendship is something I value and as such I keep my friends closer.
Sometimes life is shitty. But life will also go on:
Life with it's up and downs can sometimes come at you in ways unexpected. But I've learnt to shrug off the bullsh*t and move on. I have also lost money on some crazy investments, but I count them as part of learning through life's school.
You will never get to where you want to be in life by complaining:
Complaining is a cancer, it makes you dwell on situations without looking for solutions. Complaining is unhealthy and the few times I found myself indulging in it, I hardly made any headway.
Some people will hate every bit of you and all you can do is accept that and move on:
No matter how hard you try, you will always remain in the bad books of some people. You can't please some people no matter what. I have learnt to accept it as a way of life for some people and move on.
Every person you know is struggling with something. Reach out:
Sometimes I find myself being mad at some people for not reaching out, but the truth is everyone is struggling with one issue or the other. They get overwhelmed by these issues sometimes that they forget to reach out. So I've learnt not to take offense.
Know when to say Enough is Enough:
While we were raised to believe we could do anything we put our minds to, we also need to realize when to call it quits. Sometimes life gives us roadblocks for a reason, and we need to recognize when to quit, be it in a relationship that just isn’t working out or perhaps a change in our career path.
Keep Trying When You Fail:
I got so discouraged with some of the events that happened, both in my personal and professional life. It is an important lesson to learn because if you stop just because you didn’t succeed the first, second or third time, you will not find success at all.
Know your real friends:
Social media can deceive us with “friending” people, but does this make them our true friend? Most people can count on one hand the people in this world they trust and can count on in a time of need, and that is most likely a true friend.
Once you know who your true friends are, you will most likely be very comfortable sharing information with them and trusting them with such information, unlike that acquaintance on social media that “likes” all your photos.
Have multiple income streams:
I learnt that it will be foolhardy having just one source of income as a man, especially as responsibilities keep increasing by the day. Having multiple investments is very important and one source of income can go south at any time.
These are some of the very vital lessons 2017 taught me. Feel free to add yours please so we all learn.