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25 Things About Life I Wish I Had Known 10 Years Ago

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We might learn things quickly, but we often forget things at the same rate—and sometimes we need to remind ourselves of the things we’ve learned.

Here are 25 of those reminders that others taught me.

1. Struggle Is Good

Never say “I can’t take it anymore.” Say “Bring it on!”

2. Don’t Complain

Complaining is the biggest waste of time there is. Either do something about it, and if you can’t, shut up about it.

3. Spend Time With People You Love

That’s your family and best friends. If you don’t have a family, create one. Most people in life are only visitors. Family is for life.

4. Don’t Start A Relationship If You’re Not In Love

I’ve done this more than once. You kind of like someone and think: “We might as well give it a shot.” Not a good idea. You’re either in love, or you are not. Don’t fool yourself. It’s not fair to you and the other person.

5. Exercise Daily

I didn’t get this until recently. A healthy body is where you have to start everything in life. If you can’t build a healthy and strong body, what CAN you build in life?

6. Keep A Journal

No, keeping a journal is not for children. It helps you to become a better thinker and writer. “I don’t want to be a writer” you might think. Well, how many emails and texts do you send a day? Everybody is a writer.

7. Be Grateful

Say ‘thank you’ to everyone and everything. “Thank you for this beautiful day.” “Thankyou for your email.” “Thank you for being there for me.”

8. Don’t Care About What People Think

We all die in the end, do you really think it matters what people think of you?

9. Take More Risks

Don’t be such a wimp.

10. Pick An Industry, Not A Job

If you want to become good at something, you need to spend years and years doing that. You can’t do that if you hop from industry to industry. Pick an industry you love and start at the bottom. You will find the perfect role for you eventually.

11. Lead The Way

When you find yourself in a situation where everyone looks at each other, it’s time for you to lead. You‘re a leader when you decide to become one. There’s no initiation or a title. Just a decision.

12. Money Is Not The Most Important Thing

You have to train yourself not to care about money and focus on providing value instead. Also, don’t become too dependent on the stuff you own — otherwise, the stuff will own you.

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Thought of the Week – 19th February 2024 (2)

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Man today is dominated by selfishness. Insatiable desire fills his whole being. The number of such persons is growing without limit. How can they achieve anything great in life? Their daily round of activities consists of reading newspapers, watching video programmes and listening to the radio. Every moment their attachment to castes, creed and parochial interests is growing. Men today must learn to lead lives inspired by sheelam and tyaga (morality and sacrifice). Human relationships today are governed by friendship or enmity. The cause for either feeling is the mind. Hatred is bred by each one’s thoughts. This may be seen from the hatred of Ravana towards Rama, of Shishupala and Dhantavakra towards Krishna and of Kauravas towards Dharmaja, who was an “Ajatashathru” –  incapable of hating anybody. There is no need to worry about the enmity of others towards you. You develop a friendly attitude towards all. Ignore the abuses of others, because they serve only to diminish your sins and transfer them to the reviler. When a man praises another, the merits of the latter accrue to the former. Deem the critic as your friend, not the one who flatters you.

Sathya Sai Baba
Divine Discourse, Jul 12, 1995.  

Thought of the Week – 19th February 2024 (1)

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Perfection is not when there is no more to add, but no more to take away. – Antoine De Saint-Exupery

This reminds me of the apocryphal story about Michelangelo and the secret of great sculpture. “How on earth did you manage to create this sublime depiction of David?” the sculptor is asked. “Well,” he replies, “I just kept chipping away everything that didn’t look like David.”

We need to let go of the noise.