15 Lessons I Want To Teach My Kids

1.You will search for it your whole life but end up finding Happiness in the simplest things. In its simplest form. It could be an intimate dinner with friends or a hike on a gorgeous sunny day, or even a wholesome home cooked meal with the ones you love most. The things we take for granted growing up and sometimes even try to avoid will become so precious and rare as we get older so don’t get too preoccupied with making fabulous plans when the best ones are at arm’s length.

2. What’s the rush? You hear this a lot. Because well, its true…I remember how badly I wanted to go to university and then how impatient I was to graduate and get a job and well, my responsibilities piled up. I honestly had no idea just how easy I had it before. And then suddenly those younger days didn’t seem so tough anymore. Why didn’t I take my time? Why was I in such a hurry to grow up?

3. Cherish your siblings. The brother or sister you bicker with so hard now will one day become your number one support, the people you will always have your back no matter what and might I even say your best friends. These are the ones you should invest your time in. These are the ones you should compromise for. You only get to live under the same roof for a very short period compared to the rest of your life so instead of competing over whats yours or theirs, enjoy each other’s company and always remember its you and them against the world.

4. Speaking of family. One day the mom and dad you kiss and cuddle with so much right now will become the people who “never get you” or want to “ruin your life.” But give it a couple of years and they will once again become your rocks in life. The people you turn to. Your comfort zone in this big wild world. Remember that when you ditch all the family functions and try to break all those rules, they’re just trying to put you on that right path and trust me you will appreciate it so much one day.

5. Fitting in doesn’t mean you have to change who you are, or act a certain way to fit into a certain mold, the most successful people are the ones who didn’t give a fly about what others think, they embraced what made them different and let me tell you they were the ones who were doubted the most. And don’t forget my darlings, It really doesn’t matter how popular you are in school, you can still turn out to be the biggest douche in life.

6. Friends will come and go like the seasons and only a real few will stay to see you through the storms, those will turn into family. Don’t beat yourself over the ones who are temporary and don’t waste your time trying to figure out the reasons why. One day you’ll understand what a blessing their absence is in your life . You are who you associate yourself with I can’t stress on this more, so associate wisely.

7. Be nice. Be kind. Again cliché. But hear me out… In a couple of years, when you’re older, no-one is going to care about how many bottles of champagne you dropped on that night out or which designer bag you carry, people are simply going to remember how you made them feel based on your actions and words. And thats going to be your reputation and its one of the most valuable things you can have.

8. But don’t confuse Reputation with social validation. It doesn’t matter how popular you are, it won’t matter how many people follow you, or how many like your photos, having a crappy character will still make you a crappy person and you can never conceal that forever. Don’t be a crappy person.

9. Enjoy every phase but make sure to eventually grow up. As tempting as it is to live like you’re in your twenties forever, don’t get stuck. Accept change and evolve with it. Reinvent yourself. Move forward, meet new people, make new friends take on other jobs and risks, move countries (but not too far from your mama!) every season in your Iife holds new exciting adventures.

10. You’re going to fail. You may get rejected. It’s going to suck. It’s going to make you doubt yourself. And thats ok. Don’t dwell. Move on and learn from your mistakes, cry a little, then improve and try harder the next time. You’re a Phoenix baby. Get up, dust yourself off, and take off!

11. Don’t let anyone convince you to accept a situation and live with it because you can’t change it. If you can’t change it, then distance yourself from it. Don’t be a defeatist. Don’t let anything or anyone control your reality. Your life is yours. You make it the way you envision it. Believe that you can and you will.

12. Hang on to your hobbies. Tennis? Yoga? Writing? Cooking? Anything. Get better at them until you find a few you are absolutely passionate about and make time for them like you would for a boyfriend/girlfriend. You might lose a few along the way, but make sure to give them your all. Those hobbies can one day turn into your dream jobs. Trust me on this!

13. Marry your best friend and Marry for love. Not money. Not status. Not pressure. L.O.V.E. Because that’s all you will want AND need at some point. You will have each other when at you’re at your highest or lowest. Love is fuel for the soul, and without it we risk running on empty tanks. It may not always be crazy love but choose wisely so its real love.

14. Learn to laugh. At situations. At yourself. People who take themselves seriously are the most dull people out there. The ones with a sense of humor are the ones everyone is drawn to. Remember that.

15. Enjoy food in all its forms. Experiment. Like laughter people who don’t eat are the least likely to have good company.