Wednesday, February 24, 2016

To My Children: Eight Life Lessons


The best lessons in life are learnt of course through experience, but there are so many things I wish I had known or understood in my younger years, that may have eased my worries or heart ache at times. Realising what really matters in life definitely comes with age, but I thought I would share some of the things I have learnt along the way to give my children a head start.

My 8 life lessons, to my beautiful children;



Love


Love - is amazing. I love your Daddy and you are loved very much. You will meet people in your life that you will think you are in love with, but sometimes it isn't real love. You will feel like your heart has been broken, shed tears for someone and think you have lost love, but you probably haven't lost real love. I hope you will never be let down or hurt, but more than anything I hope you find love like we did as early as we did. It's fun, amazing, scary, exciting, and having that person that truly understands you, well it's pretty priceless.

When you find love you will know it. The 'one' person you are meant to spend your life with will come along one day and you will just know. If things don't work with someone, then they aren't meant to be, if someone wants a break from you, they aren't the one. Until you find that person that fills every part of you with happiness that you just cant describe, don't settle for anything less, however long the wait. Wait for the one that makes your heart smile.


Education


Education is really important, it's not all about what level you achieve but working hard and learning about the world is the greatest thing you can do. You can train to be anything you want to be and I will always be happy whatever that is. Don't commit to anything like a degree until you know what you want to do, it can take years and you can travel and explore and live before you decide if you need to. Do whatever you want to do and if it doesn't work out, that's fine you can try something else. Never think you aren't capable or good enough and give everything your all. You can be anything you want to be and achieve anything you want to achieve. 


Work


Generally jobs are not much fun, but if you can find something you actually enjoy enough to make it through the week smiling, then you are on to a winner. If you are passionate about something though, go for it and don't worry what people will think, you need to be happy, always. Take risks, be adventurous, follow your passions and never give up what you enjoy. Work to live and do not live to work unless it's your absolute life blood.

Money


They say money doesn't make you happy and to an extent that is absolutely true. Lots of free things make you happy; love,  baby laughter, animals - but money can make you happy too. The happiness of money comes more from the ease of having it, compared to the struggle and sadness of not having it. I hope you will never struggle, but you really value money when you've not had it. Try and save when you can and put money away for later on, but always enjoy yourself. Avoid getting into debt and avoid borrowing from friends and family as it always leads to trouble. Learn to spend wisely, only buy new when you need to and if you love shopping as much as your parents - then enjoy your shopping too. You have grown up with parents that have very little money and I hope you will only remember the good times, the fun we have each and every day and not the excuses as to why we can't go to Disney World or buy that nice new toy. Life is what you make of it and if you ever do struggle with money, get creative, look for ways to be happy without it, it's there if you look hard enough.

Happiness


You are important. To me you are more important than anything and I want you to love yourselves as much as I love you too. You should and must always be happy. You have made me the happiest person alive and you more than deserve the same. Always be in the pursuit of happiness and never hold back. If you aren't happy, change things. If people don't make you happy, move on. If you aren't happy, please talk to me. Look for the beauty in every day and find your happy.

Health


Health is so important and you get to an age where suddenly you realise it and cross your fingers you haven't done too much damage. Take it from me, you don't want to smoke, it's nasty and addictive and very quickly makes you ill, quicker than you think. Drink carefully, but still have fun. Eat healthily and keep fit, it feels so much better when you do. Don't wait until the damage emerges, be healthy and make your body happy - it will treat you better for it. One day when you have little people of your own just like you, you will need all the energy you can muster, trust me.


Family


Family will always be there and although there are hard times, they are always there when you need them. I promise to always be there and help you in any way I can. One day when you have a family of your own it will all become clear. 


Friends


Good friends are hard to come by. It's self esteem that is of up most important and you must always surround yourself with people that build you up, not break you down. Real friends are happy for you, real friends make you happy. When it comes to friends, it truly is quality over quantity and sometimes friendships form with the most bizarre people in the most absurd situations. Life is too short to have people around you that don't allow you to be yourself or love you for it. You. Are. Amazing.


Those are my 8 life lessons, but in short - always be happy, always love, respect and look after yourself and know I am always here for you.

xxx




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