6 lessons you must learn in life

Life is interesting. Falling, getting up, sprinting, crashing, being screwed over, neglecting friendships, saying goodbye to loved ones; we've all been through it. Do you find it strange that people over 70 are so wise?

I feel like I'm learning more in my twenties than ever before. About life, about how I tick, about how people ‘work’; the whole shebang. It all started once with this post about the quarter-life crisis. You know, that you have no idea what you want to do with your life and questions like: who do I want to be? What do I want to do? Where do I want to live? And what do I want deep down in my heart? hammering in your head like an annoying woodpecker. The fun part is: in ten years you'll have totally different ‘problems’ and laugh at your ignorant young self.

But the fact remains that we work a little bit every day on our wise seventy-plus self and along the way we can look back at what we've learned. My biggest lessons so far?

1. Choose relationships that give you energy

The world is full of nice people who appreciate you and yet we almost all manage to befriend an asshole. Or worse: fall in love with one. It's almost impressive. And through trial and error, we've all become wiser. Say goodbye to the bloodsuckers, let go of the energy suckers and say hello to an awesome life with the coolest friends that exist.

2. Failing might suck for a moment, but it's really not a disaster

Every life has ups and downs, peaks and valleys, successes and failures. In hindsight, it's always the biggest mistakes from which you learn the most. Try to forgive yourself your mistakes and remember your successes. (By the way, read when I've hit rock bottom in life.) here 3. Develop yourself

Take that world trip if that's your biggest dream. Learn that new language. Take a photography course; life is yours. By developing ourselves, we get more of what we want. It's actually that simple. You can't let a life depend on others, you have to shape it yourself. More skills mean fewer challenges. The more you develop yourself, the more you'll enjoy the ride.

4. Never make eye contact while eating a banana.

Just don’t. And don’t pretend to be pious, you know exactly why (yes hello, can I also joke a bit among all this seriousness? Thank youuu.).

5. Find out what makes YOU happy.

Yep, still working on that one. And I’m not the only one from my generation, I think. How many people are busy wanting what others want, what society expects, or what 'normal' is supposed to be? I just read on a blog from a life coach: 'A happy and successful life is always a personal recipe, tailor-made.' I think that's beautiful. Ask yourself in every situation: what do I actually want? Remember the answer and do something with it.

6. Everything is a lesson.

Every job, every conflict, every bump in your path. When you learn from what has happened to you, you grow as a person. And you build life experience that will come in handy later. Once one lesson is completed, the next one is already at the door (bye lover 1, hello lover 2.) But... and here it comes: if you don't learn from the lesson, life will just keep throwing it in your face and repeating it until you fully understand it. Got it?

Alright, that's enough, Dr. Phil is going underground again. Good luck with falling and getting up, okay?

Life is interesting. Falling, getting up, sprinting, crashing, being screwed over, neglecting friendships, saying goodbye to loved ones…