This year marks an important milestone in my life - reaching the big three-zero zone. I should have, theoretically speaking, figured everything out about life by now. Well, not really.
Learning is a process that never stops. The day you think you've known enough is the day you stop living life.
Anyway, being me and my tendency to reflect on certain things, I came up with a list of things that I am glad I have discovered by the time I'm thirty.
What you eat matters.
In today's world, food industry has been twisted in so many ways that some people actually think eating French Fries at McDonald's is considered "fresh" food. Just because some food are cooked just before it was served to you, doesn't mean it is fresh. I learned a lot about food, its nutrients and the importance of removing processed food from your diet while I was caring for my husband, Sathyan. The information I gathered and learned blew me away. The experience changed my perception towards food and health, and I learned, for you to live a good healthy life you must have a balanced meal. There is no exception.
Points to ponder: Being vegetarian doesn't guarantee you against a disease-free life. Most of the cancer patients I have met during my stay at the hospital are vegetarians who practice some form of meditations. The only difference eating healthy and regular exercise makes in your life is how your body will be able to better resist itself from disease invasion, hence increasing your chances of survival.
Not every relationship matters.
And you cannot make everyone happy. This is the most important lesson I learned. Somehow, you will come to realize the true intentions of people around you, and when that happens you will know whether the relationship is worth saving or burning. In my life, I thought if I lose certain folks from my life I won't be able to live. That is not true. Relationships are like clouds - when one goes away another one comes along. You just need to learn to accept, adapt and appreciate. No point taking a step backward. Always look for a better day by moving forward. And some relationship, no matter how hard you try, will not return :)
Knowledge is power.
What you learn in school or university is not going to help you. Any fool can know, the point is to understand (Albert Einstein). You are always on the winning side if only you invest some time to learn something new and understand the impact that knowledge would give to you. Make use of it - in every positive way. This is the most important lesson that I learned at hospital. Although trusting your doctor is essential - I often do research on my own to counter some diagnosis and prescriptions given by doctors to my husband. That amazed the doctors so much, that my husband's case was handled with extra caution because they know, the wife (me) will not let them go off-hook easily if I found out something went wrong.
Do what will help you to move forward,
and ignore those that drags you backward. I learned to keep positive-minded people around me and that helped me to come out from a lot of poisonous moments throughout my life.
Keep a hobby and take a break.
When stress builds up and I am at a breaking point, it is good to know that there are some things that can take my mind away. I love to cook, take photographs and travel - these things make me happy and something that I enjoy doing. So if you think keeping hobby is a waste, think again. They actually keep you alive as humane as possible.
Only four things? It took me 30 years to learn four things? Well, not really. There are some lessons that are basically tucked within my mind that should not be released for public reading pleasure. But one thing for sure, I think I have a lot more figured out in my life than some girls of my age. :)
