There is a saying I like: “Time flies by”. And it really does. However, while it flies by me, it doesn’t leave only evidence of the years passed on my face, it also leaves other things, things to remember. Some of them hurt, some make me smile, but all have one thing in common… they are my life’s lessons. They are, in fact, lessons to live by so to achieve the ultimate goal: simply living a good life and being happy. So, while I await many things yet to come and many lessons to learn, let me share some of these lessons, that seem to me the most important ones.  I struggle to remember them every day. Most likely, you will learn them by yourself, sooner or later. The order is random, although I come to believe learning to accept yourself, is the most important lesson of all.

#1– Accept Yourself

As soon as you learn that, you will also learn to truly love and respect yourself. And this will make it easier for other people to love and respect you. As simple as it sounds, it is really a hard lesson! When you learn to respect and love yourself, you will take better care of yourself. You will therefore learn to say “no” to things – or persons – that hurt you or make you unhappy.

Also, accepting yourself means to accept that everyone makes mistakes, but only the wise learn from them. Ask for forgiveness and say that you are sorry when your mistakes hurt others in any way. Be forgiving to others. Don’t hold grudges. They just keep hurting you if you do.

It is also a given that no one is perfect, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Don’t bother with what other people think of you or with being jealous of others. But admire worthy people – they are all around you, even if they seem ordinary – and try to learn from them.