Friday, January 9, 2015
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
The Moment I Knew I Was Turning Into My Parents
From the time you were a little peanut up until, well, your
last phone call, your parents have dispensed pearls of wisdom and
ushered you into adulthood in their unique way. As a kid, their corny
sayings and strange mannerisms drove you up the wall, and you swore that
you’d never, ever be the same way.
In honor of this moment of realization, we’ve partnered with Toyota to bring you some classic tales of “oh my god, I’m turning into my mother/father."
Here are the life lessons we learned along the way.
LESSON #1: Put this one in the memory box (and this one…and this one…)
Natasha Huang is a page right out of her mother’s book. While she’s all about fashion and flashy trends, she’s said that she’s begun to take style cues from her more conservative mom -- and her mom has even started to borrow her clothes.
Natasha Huang
Another moment was when I started realizing I was hoarding ‘memories.’ I used to make so much fun of my mom for keeping absolutely everything as a memory and I find myself having a walk-in closet and a loft packed with memories and items of things I can’t let go of that remind me of great times.
LESSON #2: Never, ever, ever give up.
In common parenting parlance, the official name for a persistent child is a “nudge.” But Nancy Guberti, a former executive at Goldman Sachs turned entrepreneur, has passed on that trait after coming face to face with her son’s serious illness. Now, her preternaturally mature children, ages 16 and 18, have started a Teenager Entrepreneur boot camp at Fordham University to help others find their passions.
Nancy Guberti
I would basically use this phrase: there's more than one way to skin a cat. if one door is not opening, and someone isn't working with you, find someone who will help, or go through a back door.Michael Guberti, host of Teenager Entrepreneur Bootcamp
I learned the importance of persistence as well as well as patience! To know when to ramp it up and to be extremely determined and know when to sit back a little bit and let the fruits of your labor take hold. To do your best always; to fly high but stay grounded.
LESSON #3: It's just homework.
Nancy Shenker is the founder and CEO of New York-based marketing company theONswitch.
Nancy Shenker
I spent one eternal hellish year -- ninth grade -- in private high school. A straight-A student, I was always plagued by science. It didn't come naturally to me and I would stare for hours at the periodic table or at chemistry formulas as if they were written in Urdu. After a torturous two hours of plowing through a particularly difficult homework assignment, I came downstairs in total panic, sobbing hysterically.Excerpted from a letter to The New York Times
''I don't get it!'' I pronounced.
''So, what will happen if you fail science?'' my sage father asked.
''I won't get into a good college,'' I bemoaned.
''So?'' he responded.
''I won't get a good job,'' I pronounced.
''So?'' he continued.
''I won't make a lot of money,'' I went on.
''So?'' he asked.
And I stopped crying for a moment, thought about it and shrugged, wondering if that one page of science was, indeed, a predictor of my entire life's happiness and success. I went back upstairs and finished the task at hand.
Epilogue: I did fairly well in the class. And I never forget to think ''So?'' when tackling life's homework assignments.
LESSON #4: Know when to demand perfection, and when to let it go.
Crystal Trinh is an NYC native. It turns out that she and her mother share a perfectionist streak, especially in the kitchen.
Crystal Trinh
Food is very central in my family. My mom’s always feeding me and giving me way too much food to take home. She has no concept of portions for one person.
As an Asian family, we always cook all day to prep for family gatherings, and I have memories of sitting around, rolling egg rolls together, and my mom would critique my rolls to make sure they’re the right length or not stuffed too much.
I recently was doing this with my (much younger) little sister, and she was getting distracted -- making triangles, playing with the eggroll skins and so on. I caught myself critiquing her egg rolls (which were far from perfect) and saying to her, How are you so bad at this?! Haven’t you been raised doing this for years?! Kids these days!
Anyway, cooking food together and being a total perfectionist is a tradition in my family. Of course, I was being a crazy person and projecting this onto my little sister. They’re just egg rolls!
LESSON #5: Never settle for less.
TierraNicole Taylor describes herself as “definitely my mother’s child,” which means that in addition to sharing the same name, they are nearly the same height, have the same mannerisms and distinct way of gliding across a room. She says her mother is “the best thing that has happened to me.” She continues: "While I was away at college, I experienced a particularly tumultuous phase with friends, acceptance, and 'finding' myself. Three years down the line and several emails, phone calls, Skype dates, care packages, and Facebook statuses later, I've learned that the value in being away from the ones we love teaches us that distance is the best teacher of love."
TierraNicole Taylor
From my mom, I learned that persistence is key. This wonderful woman decided to go back to college when I reached high school. She completed her bachelor's degree in 2008 and even went on complete a master's in educational technology in 2011 ... all while raising me through high school and the first two years of my own college career. Settling has never been an option for her, and what she has achieved so far continues to show me that persistence reaps far greater rewards than any virtue in life.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/24/family-memories-roundup_n_5772140.html#eyJocmVmIjoiaHR0cDovL3d3dy5odWZmaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vMjAxNC8xMS8yNi9hcmlhbmEtZ3JhbmRlLWJldHRlLW1pZGxlcl9uXzYyMjQ3NDIuaHRtbD9uY2lkPXR4dGxua3VzYW9scDAwMDAwNTkyIiwiYWRVbml0Ijp7InNlcnZlciI6ImlidyIsImlkIjoiOTM0MTY2MjEiLCJtb2JpbGUiOmZhbHNlfSwibGFiZWwiOiJBcnRpY2xlIFBhZ2UtIFJpZ2h0IFJhaWwgVW5pdCBQSE9FTklYIiwic2VsZWN0b3IiOiIubW9zdC1wb3B1bGFyIiwiY3JlYXRpdmUiOiJmZTgwNjJkODA1M2I0NmQ3YjFjM2Y4MjgwMWZlNTc2NiIsImV4cGVyaWVuY2VUeXBlIjoiaW5ib3VuZCJ9
Sunday, November 16, 2014
The Pope’s 10 Tips for a Happier Life
In a recent interview with the Argentine publication Viva, Pope Francis issued a list of 10 tips to be a happier person, based on his own life experiences.
The Pope encouraged people to be more positive and generous, to turn off the TV and find healthier forms of leisure, and even to stop trying to convert people to one’s own religion.
But his number one piece of advice came in the form of a somewhat cliche Italian phrase that means, “move forward and let others do the same.”
It’s basically the Italian equivalent of, “live and let live.” You can check out the full list below.
The Pope gives a thumbs up to an audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.
(Photo: CSV)
2. “Be giving of yourself to others.” People need to be open and generous toward others, he said, because “if you withdraw into yourself, you run the risk of becoming egocentric. And stagnant water becomes putrid.”
3. “Proceed calmly” in life. The pope, who used to teach high school literature, used an image from an Argentine novel by Ricardo Guiraldes, in which the protagonist — gaucho Don Segundo Sombra — looks back on how he lived his life.
4. A healthy sense of leisure. The Pope said “consumerism has brought us anxiety”, and told parents to set aside time to play with their children and turn of the TV when they sit down to eat.
5. Sundays should be holidays. Workers should have Sundays off because “Sunday is for family,” he said.
6. Find innovative ways to create dignified jobs for young people. “We need to be creative with young people. If they have no opportunities they will get into drugs” and be more vulnerable to suicide, he said.
7. Respect and take care of nature. Environmental degradation “is one of the biggest challenges we have,” he said. “I think a question that we’re not asking ourselves is: ‘Isn’t humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature?’”
8. Stop being negative. “Needing to talk badly about others indicates low self-esteem. That means, ‘I feel so low that instead of picking myself up I have to cut others down,’” the Pope said. “Letting go of negative things quickly is healthy.”
9. Don’t proselytise; respect others’ beliefs. “We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. But the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyses: ‘I am talking with you in order to persuade you,’ No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity. The church grows by attraction, not proselytising,” the Pope said.
10. Work for peace. “We are living in a time of many wars,” he said, and “the call for peace must be shouted. Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive” and dynamic.
Courtesy of the Catholic News Service.
http://thehigherlearning.com/2014/07/31/the-pope-just-released-a-list-of-10-tips-for-becoming-a-happier-person-and-they-are-spot-on/
The Pope encouraged people to be more positive and generous, to turn off the TV and find healthier forms of leisure, and even to stop trying to convert people to one’s own religion.
But his number one piece of advice came in the form of a somewhat cliche Italian phrase that means, “move forward and let others do the same.”
It’s basically the Italian equivalent of, “live and let live.” You can check out the full list below.
(Photo: CSV)
The Pope’s 10 Tips for a Happier Life
1. “Live and let live.” Everyone should be guided by
this principle, he said, which has a similar expression in Rome with
the saying, “Move forward and let others do the same.”2. “Be giving of yourself to others.” People need to be open and generous toward others, he said, because “if you withdraw into yourself, you run the risk of becoming egocentric. And stagnant water becomes putrid.”
3. “Proceed calmly” in life. The pope, who used to teach high school literature, used an image from an Argentine novel by Ricardo Guiraldes, in which the protagonist — gaucho Don Segundo Sombra — looks back on how he lived his life.
4. A healthy sense of leisure. The Pope said “consumerism has brought us anxiety”, and told parents to set aside time to play with their children and turn of the TV when they sit down to eat.
5. Sundays should be holidays. Workers should have Sundays off because “Sunday is for family,” he said.
6. Find innovative ways to create dignified jobs for young people. “We need to be creative with young people. If they have no opportunities they will get into drugs” and be more vulnerable to suicide, he said.
7. Respect and take care of nature. Environmental degradation “is one of the biggest challenges we have,” he said. “I think a question that we’re not asking ourselves is: ‘Isn’t humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature?’”
8. Stop being negative. “Needing to talk badly about others indicates low self-esteem. That means, ‘I feel so low that instead of picking myself up I have to cut others down,’” the Pope said. “Letting go of negative things quickly is healthy.”
9. Don’t proselytise; respect others’ beliefs. “We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. But the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyses: ‘I am talking with you in order to persuade you,’ No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity. The church grows by attraction, not proselytising,” the Pope said.
10. Work for peace. “We are living in a time of many wars,” he said, and “the call for peace must be shouted. Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive” and dynamic.
Courtesy of the Catholic News Service.
http://thehigherlearning.com/2014/07/31/the-pope-just-released-a-list-of-10-tips-for-becoming-a-happier-person-and-they-are-spot-on/
Monday, November 10, 2014
66 things to be grateful for
With the hustle, bustle, and stress of everyday life, it's easy to
become fixated on big-picture worries and take for granted all the
little facets of life that deserve appreciation and can be a major boost
to your overall happiness.
If you're in need of a mindset transformation, here are 66 things to be grateful for — not only during the holiday season, but also all year long.
1. You're alive and breathing.
2. You're able to read this.
3. You have someone (or multiple someones) that you consider a best friend.
4. Your pet(s) love you unconditionally.
5. You have a job.
6. If you're currently unemployed, you have free time.
7. Much-needed vacation days.
8. Those weekends that feel longer than two days.
9. Those workweeks that feel shorter than five days.
10. Mornings you can sleep in.
11. Movie marathons.
12. Cozy fires and hot chocolate.
13. Maintained connections with long-distance friends.
14. Holiday memories from past years.
15. Future life events to look forward to.
16. Your earliest childhood memory.
17. The places you have traveled to, and the promise of future travels.
18. The shoes on your feet.
19. Your bad days. (They make the good days better. )
20. The people you love.
21. The lessons you learned this year.
22. You're not the same person you were this time last year. You've grown.
23. The food on your table.
24. The moment you finally see someone you've missed.
Flickr/staroneGood coffee is everything sometimes.
25. Good coffee.
26. The song that always makes you feel better.
27. The memories with your parents you will never forget.
28. The people in your life who always make sure you're getting home safely.
29. The money in your bank account.
30. Your significant other.
31. If you're single: You get a period of self-discovery and quality time with friends.
32. People who have forgiven you.
33. A soothing cup of tea.
34. Friendly coworkers.
35. Good hair days.
36. The internet.
37. Warm whiskey.
38. Home-cooked meals.
39. Seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice and gingerbread.
40. Books that changed your life.
41. Cozy sweaters.
42. Good conversation.
43. Heating.
44. People who pick up the tab.
45. Cuddling.
46. Good health.
47. Fresh-baked bread.
48. That hair grows back after a bad haircut.
49. Kind people on public transportation.
50. Kind people in general.
51. Long overdue hugs from friends and family.
52. Those voicemails you have saved on your phone.
53. Warm hands.
54. Uncontrollable laughter.
55. Rainy days spent at home.
56. Hometown spots with a lot of nostalgia.
57. Happy tears.
58. Your individual talents.
59. Old photos with people you've lost.
60. Home videos.
61. The teachers you will never forget.
62. Gifts you didn't expect to receive.
63. Being able to buy something you've been saving up for.
64. Friends who have stuck around through your toughest times.
65. Family traditions.
66. Everything you have yet to learn but will.
If you're in need of a mindset transformation, here are 66 things to be grateful for — not only during the holiday season, but also all year long.
1. You're alive and breathing.
2. You're able to read this.
3. You have someone (or multiple someones) that you consider a best friend.
4. Your pet(s) love you unconditionally.
5. You have a job.
6. If you're currently unemployed, you have free time.
7. Much-needed vacation days.
8. Those weekends that feel longer than two days.
9. Those workweeks that feel shorter than five days.
10. Mornings you can sleep in.
11. Movie marathons.
12. Cozy fires and hot chocolate.
13. Maintained connections with long-distance friends.
14. Holiday memories from past years.
15. Future life events to look forward to.
16. Your earliest childhood memory.
17. The places you have traveled to, and the promise of future travels.
18. The shoes on your feet.
19. Your bad days. (They make the good days better. )
20. The people you love.
21. The lessons you learned this year.
22. You're not the same person you were this time last year. You've grown.
23. The food on your table.
24. The moment you finally see someone you've missed.
Flickr/staroneGood coffee is everything sometimes.25. Good coffee.
26. The song that always makes you feel better.
27. The memories with your parents you will never forget.
28. The people in your life who always make sure you're getting home safely.
29. The money in your bank account.
30. Your significant other.
31. If you're single: You get a period of self-discovery and quality time with friends.
32. People who have forgiven you.
33. A soothing cup of tea.
34. Friendly coworkers.
35. Good hair days.
36. The internet.
37. Warm whiskey.
38. Home-cooked meals.
39. Seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice and gingerbread.
40. Books that changed your life.
41. Cozy sweaters.
42. Good conversation.
43. Heating.
44. People who pick up the tab.
45. Cuddling.
46. Good health.
47. Fresh-baked bread.
48. That hair grows back after a bad haircut.
49. Kind people on public transportation.
50. Kind people in general.
51. Long overdue hugs from friends and family.
52. Those voicemails you have saved on your phone.
53. Warm hands.
54. Uncontrollable laughter.
55. Rainy days spent at home.
56. Hometown spots with a lot of nostalgia.
57. Happy tears.
58. Your individual talents.
59. Old photos with people you've lost.
60. Home videos.
61. The teachers you will never forget.
62. Gifts you didn't expect to receive.
63. Being able to buy something you've been saving up for.
64. Friends who have stuck around through your toughest times.
65. Family traditions.
66. Everything you have yet to learn but will.
Monday, November 3, 2014
5 Things the Death of my Father Made Me Change - by Kevin Green
Exactly one year ago today, my father lost his long battle with Parkinson's Disease. It was, and remains, the worst day of my life. However, from that day forward, I finally started doing what he had asked me to do for so many years.
My father was an extremely successful man in both business and life. He had a positive outlook on almost everything and openly shared his perspective, experience and wisdom every time we spoke. Like most children, I listened, but rarely acted or understood the message he was trying to deliver. As a father, he knew he couldn't tell me exactly what to do, but he did his best to influence while letting me make my own decisions.
After he passed, I kept hearing his words and realized that listening to his guidance wasn't enough, it was time to act. As a result, I changed everything.
While some of this may not be relevant to all, I thought I would take this opportunity to share 5 life and business lessons posthumously from a man who never had the tools and technology to deliver them to a broader audience. May you also find something of value in his advice.
1) Move to a different part of the country (check) - It's easy to find comfort in what we know. Change can be terrifying, but it is also liberating. Don't settle for what life has given to you, take the right opportunities as they come to you and hopefully you'll find that what's right for you, may be 2,000 miles away.
2) Respect is given, then earned (check) - Entitlement is an easy emotion. We want more, we want it faster, and we want it exactly the way we imagined it in our minds. We are hard wired to think we know what's best and often ignore those that paved the road before us. Respect the guidance and wisdom of others. Even those younger than you and holding entry level positions. Respect the ideas, emotions and needs of others and they will in turn respect yours.
3) Be open about how you feel (check) - I've often been blamed for being too emotional when it comes to things I am passionate about. Many previous managers have advised me to control those emotions vs. letting them control you. It's not about controlling your emotions, it's about expressing them the right way. Do not hesitate to communicate how you feel, but do so in a way that fosters a discussion, strengthens a relationship and creates the opportunity for people to see your point of view.
4) Talk to Everyone - as your equal (still working on this one) - My father spoke to everyone as if they were the CEO of their company. From the waitstaff at a restaurant to the guy bagging groceries (if he actually ever made it to the grocery store). He genuinely wanted to know about them. Did they like their job? How was business? He was a natural conversationalist and people loved him because he took interest and time. Something we all claim to have less and less of. A senior executive at a Fortune 50 company and he'd spend 15 minutes talking to the waitstaff during a business lunch because he felt they were equally as important as the people around his table.
5) Give of yourself often (still working on this as well) - Need a job? Talk to my dad. Need financial advice? He's your guy. Want to help improve childhood illiteracy? You have his attention. It's important to be involved in things beyond what pays you. Beyond things that benefit just you. The most rewarding experiences of my fathers life were not those found around the boardroom table, they were making material changes in the lives of others. From volunteering with dog rescue programs, bringing toys to underprivileged children, building programs that help children learn to read, or guiding people through their careers. He was a mentor in the truest form.
While this post may be a little unusual for LinkedIn, I felt compelled to share as the world we live in today is more complicated, distracting and evolving at a pace we're just not used to. We are asking our employees to do more, with less everyday and often forgetting that they are people, with real challenges, emotions and issues that prevent them from doing things the way you want them done.
Since he died, I vowed to change that mindset. My mindset. I finally started to see what it meant to be "People First." To be a true leader, you need to be people first. Put people in scenarios where they can succeed. Where they can explore and find their passion. Enable them to find the time vs. consistently asking for more, if not all, of it. Be open to the ideas of others, as brilliance exists at all levels and everyone has the ability to surprise you. Listen. Listen with intent. Help.
So, while the world keeps trying to "Lean In" and chase dollars, remember that no amount of money or title will make you well rounded. "Lean Out" as often as you "Lean In" and when you become a leader...
- Help your team grow, even though they may leave the nest eventually and move 2,000 miles away - Their success is equally important as your own
- Make time for the interns and entry level folks. They need it more than anyone and could someday be your boss
- Communicate effectively and openly. Encourage your team to be open when they are about to break or burn out. Fix the problems together, before you lose someone for reasons that have simple solutions
- Talent is everywhere. Ask people what they think. Listen more than you speak and you may just find out what your people are capable of
- Be accessible and open to ideas. Just because you like something done a certain way, doesn't mean it's the right way. Just because that's the way things have always been done, doesn't mean that's the way they should still be done. This applies in work and changing the way we teach children to read. Use what you learn in the office in places that desperately need your perspective
It was one year ago that I stood by his bed as he left us. It was when I said goodbye, that I finally promised to change.
(Photo used is my father's last watch - He made the time... and believe it or not. It hasn't kept time since he died.)
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20141017140635-5175770-5-things-the-death-of-my-father-made-me-change?trk=object-title
Monday, October 13, 2014
33 Awesome Quotes to Inspire Positive Change By David Van Rooy @dlvanrooy
Organizations and people that don't embrace change are bound to lose ground and stagnate. When you are anxiously anticipating a change--or in the midst of a challenging one--grab one of these quotes to help you or your team plow through it.
- The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking. ~ Albert Einstein
- Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts. ~ Arnold Bennett
- Change is inevitable. Change is constant. ~ Benjamin Disraeli
- When you're finished changing, you're finished. ~ Benjamin Franklin
- The price of doing the same old thing is far higher than the price of change. ~ Bill Clinton
- It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change. ~ Charles Darwin
- The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress. ~ Charles Kettering
- If you don't like change, you will like irrelevance even less. ~ General Eric Shinseki
- Change means that what was before wasn't perfect. People want things to be better. ~ Esther Dyson
- Resistance at all cost is the most senseless act there is. ~ Friedrich Durrenmatt
- If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living. ~ Gail Sheehy
- Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. ~ George Bernard Shaw
- When people shake their heads because we are living in a restless age, ask them how they would like to life in a stationary one, and do without change. ~ George Bernard Shaw
- I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better. ~ Georg C. Lichtenberg
- He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery. ~ Harold Wilson
- Change before you have to. ~ Jack Welch
- People can cry much easier than they can change. ~ James Baldwin
- Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. ~ John F. Kennedy
- Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof. ~ John Kenneth Galbraith
- Be the change that you wish to see in the world. ~ Mahatma Gandhi
- Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead
- Your success in life isn't based on your ability to simply change. It is based on your ability to change faster than your competition, customers and business. ~ Mark Sanborn
- If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. ~ Maya Angelou
- I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples. ~ Mother Teresa
- The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance. ~ Nathaniel Branden
- Change your thoughts and you change your world. ~ Norman Vincent Peale
- People don't resist change. They resist being changed. ~ Peter Senge
- You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete. ~ R. Buckminster Fuller
- Our dilemma is that we hate change and love it at the same time; what we really want is for things to remain the same but get better. ~ Sydney J. Harris
- It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory ~ W. Edwards Deming
- There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction. ~ Winston Churchill
- To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often. ~ Winston Churchill
- And just for fun... "Change is inevitable--except from a vending machine." ~ Robert C. Gallagher
- By David Van Rooy @dlvanrooy http://www.inc.com/david-van-rooy/33-awesome-quotes-to-inspire-positive-change.html?cid=sf01001
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Dear 30-Somethings, I Hope You Won’t Make These Mistakes In Life
Dear 30-Somethings,
I am writing this to help you change your life around for the better. I want you to live a long and prosperous life without looking back with regrets. You have many years ahead of you, and I want to make sure that you live them to the fullest. There’s nothing like waking up one morning and having a meltdown because you didn’t do what you wanted to, so I want to make sure that doesn’t happen to you. Read this with an open mind and think about your life at the moment; are you living a happy life? If the answer is no, you won’t be living a happy life when you’re older either. No matter how much you’re saving for retirement.
1. Making Work a Priority
You’re a newbie at your job, and you want to make a good impression on your boss. I get it, it’s a natural feeling. You can’t just put work before everything else in your life though. If you respond to every call you receive from your boss or coworkers, even on your days off, you will never take the time to enjoy the present moment. You will soon become so obsessed with work that your life will only be about that… work. Your friends will start drifting away, and your relationships will be affected. I get that you want to work hard now and have fun later, but work will never cuddle with you when you are sad. Find a balance between work and fun that works for you. Work can come second on weekends and special occasions. Turn off your phone while you’re at the restaurant with your friends and make it clear to your boss that you will not answer calls or texts on specific days.2. Forgetting Your Passion for Money
Money controls everything in today’s world. If you want a luxurious life, you need more money; it’s just how it works. Which is why you might consider putting your passion behind in order to make more money. Let me tell you something about this type of thinking: it will make you miserable. If you go to work unhappy about what you do, or not passionate about your everyday tasks, you will be miserable. You will groan when you wake up in the morning, and you will sigh in relief when it’s time to punch out. You will find yourself in a mediocre routine where your feelings will be pretty much inexistent, because there will be no passion or excitement in your life. Of course though, we’re humans, so we need to feel something to not be depressed, which is where shopping splurges will come in. The money you make will pay for your happiness in things like shoes, dresses, suits, or cars. It might seem like you’re happy for a few minutes, but the feeling will fade very quickly. After a while, your boss might even think of letting you go because he can see that you’re miserable on the job. I write from experience. My advice? Follow your passion. When you’re passionate about something, the money will follow. Your excitement and love will allow you to create something amazing, something that sets you apart from others. If you’re passionate about writing, become a writer. It won’t always be easy, but you will wake up in the morning happy about what you’re doing of your day. You will create content that will make your readers want to read more. That’s what passion does and that’s why money always follows it. To find your passion, think back to when you were a little kid. What did you love doing more than anything? If it was playing video games, can you become a video game creator? If it was painting, can you become a museum curator? Think about it, and follow it. There’s a career for every passion.3. Not Taking Care of Your Body
You might think now that you don’t need too exercise or eat healthy in order to look good, but your future self will think differently. You’re young, take care of your body! The food you eat today will start affecting your body later, by adding more wrinkles to your face or increasing your chances of getting ill. Go to the gym now, even if you don’t think you need it. If you exercise and eat healthy now, your skin will be tighter and your body will be slimmer later. Not only that, but you will also feel better about yourself. You’re already young and beautiful, so why not enhance this beauty of yours through a healthy lifestyle?4. Neglecting Your Family
Family should always come first. You probably left the nest a few years ago and don’t plan on looking back, which is fine. But, you should never neglect your family. If you live in the same area, make time for all of them and catch up on their stories. You don’t want to be so caught up in work or adulthood that you forget to call your mother for a month or two. If you are living in a different Country, you can Skype to talk to your parents, siblings, or other close relatives. You might think that you’re above it all right now and that your friends are your new family, but it’s false. When you’ll be older, it’s a guarantee that you’ll regret not spending time with your family when you had the chance. You’ll regret forgetting to call your sister on her 30th birthday, or going to that lunch date with your parents. Your family is precious. Hold on to it and let them know regularly that you love them. They’re the ones who will be by your side no matter what happens. If you had a fight with a close family member, let go of that anger. Call your sibling or your parents and set things right, you’ll be happier.5. Being Negative
Negativity will kill you. Simple. If you spend your thirties thinking negatively, you will not blossom the way you should. Not only will you become a grumpy old person in the future, but you will also lose your entourage. People around you will slowly stop talking to you, because they know how negative you are. Your negativity will also take a toll on your relationships and career, as no one will want to spend time with you. It may sound harsh, but it’s the truth. Negativity will kill you. Instead of victimizing yourself and thinking negatively all the time, change your thoughts. Say affirmations every morning to start your day on a positive note. If you catch yourself being negative, shake it off and force yourself to think positive again. If your entourage is the one who’s negative, let go of them. It will make you feel better and a whole new life will open up before you.6. Thinking You’re Too Old
You’re mistaken if you ever think that you’re too old to do something. Not only will you miss out on a lot of fun, but you will also age more quickly than you should. You don’t want to turn 50 one day and look back at your 35th birthday, when you passed up going to DisneyLand with your friends and just had a quiet dinner at home. You don’t have to be serious all the time, and you most definitely don’t have to act like you’re in your thirties, whatever that looks like. Take Richard Branson for example, he’s in his sixties and still lives like he’s in his thirties. Age is just a number, it shouldn’t define what you can or cannot do. You will live a much happier life if you stop thinking that you’re too old for this or for that. You’re never too old to ride the roller coasters or dance on the table! You have one life, make the most of it until the end.7. Forgetting Yourself
If you are spending too much time pleasing others and forgetting about yourself, you will regret it later. Allow yourself the right to say no to certain invitations or certain requests from your significant other. When you’ll be older, you’ll regret not putting yourself first in certain situations, especially if you put aside your hopes and dreams to let someone else have the spotlight. If you put your needs first every once in a while, you’ll be much happier. It doesn’t matter if your friends and family don’t approve of your change of career, if you love it and know that it’s what you want to do, do it. You know yourself best.8. Living Too Safely
There’s no regret like the regret of living your life too safely. If you live too safely right now, you will never accomplish the things you could’ve accomplished, period. If you’re always so afraid of taking risks, you will pass up on job offers, promotions, relationships, friendships, and dozens of other opportunities. The time will never be right for taking a risk, but if you know what you’re getting yourself into, take the risk. Take the risk of failure or rejection and see what happens. Even if that guy at work doesn’t like you romantically, at least now you know. You won’t always go home overthinking every eye contact you’ve had with the guy, because you’ll know that nothing can happen. The best way to embrace risk is by testing new foods. Go to a Mexican restaurant and try hot dishes, see what happens. Go on a spontaneous trip with your best friend, see what happens. Worst case scenario? You’ll have hilarious stories to tell your grandchildren.9. Not Traveling Enough
This is one of the most common regrets people have when they’re older. You might be extremely busy with work or adulthood right now, but you should always make time to get out of the country and visit new cities. When you get older, you won’t have the energy to travel around the world, so do it now. Traveling will help you find yourself by breaking away from the routine and thinking of only one thing: yourself. Even if it doesn’t seem like it, you now have the time to travel. Take two weeks off and visit Paris or London, see what everyone is talking about! See for yourself if Italians are real charmers or if French macarons are the best dessert on earth. Many people take a gap year before University to travel around the world, why not do it now? Grab a luggage and head out into the world, that’s where the real opportunities lie.10. Leaving Feelings Unspoken
A lot of you today think that feelings should just be bottled up, mostly because you’re afraid of getting hurt. This fear will create a lot of regret in the future as you look back and wonder if that person at work really liked you. You can’t leave your feelings bottled up for fear of being rejected or of ruining whatever is going on between the two of you. If you think that the other person likes you, make a move. What if your best friend likes you as much as you like him? Imagine the regret you will have if you both like each other, but no one has the courage to speak out. You’ll get married one day and still wonder if your best friend likes you the way you like him. I mean, haven’t you seen Maid of Honor? Talk to your crush about your feelings or ask that cute waiter out. Worst case scenario, they don’t like you romantically but still want to be friends with you. At least you will know for sure that the person doesn’t like you. You can move on to the next person without regrets, because you did what you could to find out if the feelings were reciprocal.Good luck, and remember to stay true to yourself!
SOURCE: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/dear-30-somethings-hope-you-wont-make-these-mistakes-life.html
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