To some, reaching the age of 30 is a major milestone. Actually, it is. You should have picked up some coping mechanisms to set you firmly on life’s path.
It’s important to realize that to graduate in life lessons doesn’t mean that you have to get a degree at Harvard.
This is a culmination of lessons that you’ve learned along the way. While having a degree is great, this does not necessarily set you on the road to success. That’s probably a very controversial statement.
Here’s the thing. While this could stand you in good stead when it comes to advancing career-wise, having a Ph.D. in ergonomics or computer coding doesn’t do much for life skills.
Here are some major lessons you can learn on your way forward.
Cultivate friendships
Cultivate friendships. Friends are the best thing you can have in life. We’re talking real friends that will stick with you through thick and thin. Even if you move states, you never lose touch with these friends.
You’ll know which are the fly-by-night acquaintances and the real thing. Huge difference here. There are people you can count on come what may, and there are the ones who suddenly disappear when you need them the most. Don’t waste time on these people.
Life throws curve balls at you. Yes, you! Most people, inexplicably, think that nothing bad is ever going to happen to them. Why they think this is a mystery. Life has always shown that bad things happen to good people.
You may be lucky enough to have found your life partner before you reach 30, but don’t become suicidal if you haven’t. If you do have a soul mate, that’s great, but it’s not something that you should count on.
Count on friendships instead. Seriously cultivate them. When those curved balls come winging your way, you are going to need friends. Life is generally cruel and heartless. There is no “over the rainbow”, there’s just cold, hard facts.
Learn too that life is fleeting. You may think that turning 40 is incredibly old and a lifetime away. It’s not. Age has a way of creeping up on you and you’re suddenly that dreaded age that you thought you’d never be.
Make the most of today
Make the most of what you have today. You only have today. Every moment is special, precious. Anything can happen at any moment. Be prepared for it. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you’re immune to life’s ills. That’s not to say you’re to live thinking something bad is going to happen any minute. It does mean that if it does, you can call a friend, and that’s a great comfort.
Money is certainly not everything. Good lesson. It can help make life somewhat easier by having a place to live and being able to buy groceries and cover your health insurance, so if you have enough to do that, consider yourself lucky. Many don’t. Whatever you do, do not spend your life chasing money. It’s mainly pointless and a dead-end street.
If you’re destined to be the Wall Street king of kings, so be it, but discover what happened to many people like this. Most of it makes for depressing reading. What happens when money is your goal and aim in life is generally bad.
You think money is power and indeed it is, but it’s not a good power. Mostly, when you get to realize that you’re unable to change course and the ending doesn’t make for a good bedtime story.
Learn, too, to take what people think of you with a pinch of salt. It really doesn’t matter. You know what and who you are. Don’t live up to others’ expectations. Live up to your own and be true to yourself.
Live as healthily as you can. Take care of your body. It’s the only one you’ll have, and you must nurture it the best you can.
