Things I’ve learned in 26 years

November 11th 2020. Here we are again. This year has not been what I expected at all. As a matter of fact, it has not been what any of us expected from 2020. But perhaps more than any other year, today I am truly grateful to be alive. I am grateful for my health, for my financial and mental stability. I am grateful for the many good things that have happened in these past 365 days. I am even grateful for the few days of the year that were lows for me, because at the end of the day, they have also proven to be valuable lessons.

In a true COVID-19 fashion, there was a zoom celebration. I feel also very grateful, and lucky, for my team at work. They are really great!

Without further adieu, and to continue the tradition, here’s the list of things I learned this year:

1. Friends—good friends—are really worth a thousand rubies!
2. We all need help every now and then and this reaching out for it is nothing to be ashamed of.
3. Never cry in front of your boss.
4. How to roast a chicken.
5. Bite your tongue before speaking with a hot head.
6. It’s important to do well in this life, but it is more important and of more transcendence, to do good.
7. Don’t trust people who belittle others when in private.
8. Respect is earned. It you need to make people respect you, you have already lost it.
9. Life is unexpected… enjoy the little things!
10. Be grateful, and never ever complain again about doing grocery shopping.
11. A kind word can make a difference.
12. Life is not fair.
13. Don’t fall into the comparison game, you’ll seldom end up winning.
14. Sing. And do it loudly and proudly.
15. You need someone to be in your corner. Don’t sub-estimate the power of an ally.
16. Never prioritize a problem over a person.
17. Build your social capital at work, but do it selflessly and without an agenda.
18. No matter who you are, the way you treat people does not go unnoticed.
19. Exercise does make you happy. It just does.
20. You never know how much you can love a dog until you have one.
21. Food storage is important.
22. Do no harm, but take no sh*t.
23. We have a living prophet in this latter days.
24. The way you allocate your time, shows you your true priorities.
25. Define what is worth dying for.
26. Life is short. As overused as the phrase might be, life is truly short. I hope that from this day onward, I never take it for granted.