25. Wow.

It feels like it was just yesterday I woke up with a scary face looking down at me, rushed to London to meet my friends, and drank until 6 in the morning. That’s the most unforgettable birthday, for sure, and now here I am again, on another birthday.

I’d like to say I’ve grown more mature than last year, but I’m not entirely sure. So instead, I’ll just list 25 things I learned before turning 25, because sometimes I need an assurance that I don’t waste my entire youth learning nothing. And who knows, maybe it could help another lost souls in this crazy and wonderful world. 😉

1. Karma does exist. Such a cliché, but true nonetheless.
2. When facing judgmental people, quote Rhett Butler: ‘Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn,’ and live by it. Life will be much more peaceful, I promise you.
3. Friends whom you can call at any time of the day to confide are the ones who will stick with you, even when the world brings you down to your knees (chances are, they will be the ones who pull you up when that happens). Keep them, and do more for them.
4. Make memories. Take pictures, write things down, use keepsakes to remember things. Someday you’ll want to look back at the old times, and you’ll thank yourself for keeping a record of your life.
5. When you live hundreds of miles away from your mother, never tell her you’re hungry, no matter what the situation is. She’ll go into deep misery, as she has this tendency to create a vivid imagery of her children suffering in a land where no food exists.
6. If someone’s playing a game on you, show them who the coach is. Yeah, two can play a game.
7. Stop wondering why people leave. If they don’t make an effort to at least stay in touch or explain their disappearance, they’re not worth fighting for.
8. Cutting your hair after a few glasses of wine is not a good idea, unless you’re creative enough to style your hair in 1001 different ways for the next few months.
9. And while we’re on the subject of haircut, always, always tell the hairdresser to cut your hair less than you originally intend. They always cut it more than what you tell them.
10. Never break trust. It’s the hardest thing to restore, if not impossible.
11. Be cautious around people who know what to say. I’m not saying they’re all bad, it’s just they usually say what people want to hear, as flattered people tend to be easier to manipulate.
12. Saying no doesn’t necessarily make you a bad person, even if you’re saying it to your loved ones. As I become more mature, I’ve learned how to say no without feeling guilty, because I deserve to choose what I want to do. If other people don’t understand, then so be it.
13. Don’t overthink. Sometimes, it’s best just to be impulsive and get on it. The most memorable moments happen when they’re unplanned.
14. Good things happen when you get out of your comfort zone. Again, cliché but true.
15. A cup of tea is always a good idea, even better with shortbread in hand. Good day, bad day, heartbroken or in love, drink tea.
16. To fall in love with a writer is such a gift and a curse, simultaneously. Nothing is more heartwarming than reading things about you written with such eloquence, but also, nothing is more heartbreaking than reading your worst nightmares turn into a reality.
17. Be kind, always. And if you’re uncertain about what to do, remember what Wayne Dyer says: ‘When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.’
18. Believe in magic, or miracles. They happen in the most inconspicuous way, when you least expect it. Yeah, the universe is funny like that.
19. It’s okay to not be okay. We all have those kind of days once in while. Refer to no. 3 and 15 for first aid.
20. When you’re blind with love, trust your friends’ judgment, more if they’re proven to be accurate in predicting guys’ behavior (because, you know, they’ve got experiences, or they were born with testosterone). This is also related to no. 3.
21. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That’s how you learn, and the truth is, sometimes it brings the best things for you, no matter how awful it seems at the beginning.
22. Sometimes it’s better not to know. ‘Ignorance is a bliss,’ people say.
23. Get closure, let go, and move on. Live by this mantra, because things change and you have to keep going and be happy no matter what.
24. Take chances, because living with a regret for things you didn’t do is the worst kind of pain.
25. If you want your life to be remarkable, do what Roald Dahl says. ‘Be outrageous. Make sure everything you do is so completely crazy.’ Most of my noteworthy moments came when I was living this quote, and rest assured, this is my most favorite quote from him, for it rings truer than anything.

And there we have it, the pearls of wisdom I may or may not pass on to the next generation.

Here’s to more lessons along the way, hopefully with less pain and more happiness (or madness. I’m happy with either).