The Things I Wish I Knew

There’s not an exorbitant amount of knowledge I have accrued over the past 28 years on this earth, but I have been fortunate enough to walk away with some solid life experiences and sound advice that has benefitted me in more ways than one. I am trying to be better about thinking positively and not letting certain stressors associated with day to day living impact my overall well-being. Everything is always much simpler and easier in hindsight and I am hoping to never be so bold and come to believe I have acquired my limit of knowledge. I yearn for more education, life lessons, a and advice along the way, both in every day life and in my training. For this blog, I have decided to create a list of some of the most sound advice and words of wisdom I have received to date. They are as follows:

1. Speak less and act more
2. Don’t allow anyone to live rent-free inside of your head
3. Eat more protein, sleep better, laugh often, and drink plenty of water
4. Don’t sweat the small stuff
5. Kids can be selfish assholes, but also loving beings. Don’t get your feelings hurt
6. Lift weights (properly)
7. Never take criticism from people you wouldn’t let yourself take advice from
8. Quit smoking
9. Stop asking ‘what if’ and start visualizing how
10. Ladies, if you wouldn’t say it to your daughter, don’t say it about yourself
11. Spend time with yourself and learn to fall in love with you
12. Dance like no one is watching
13. Don’t be ashamed of tears or emotion
14. Whenever you think you have nothing left to give, push harder
15. Don’t cling to a mistake just because you spent a long time making it
16. Go for a run. Endorphins are greta mood elevators
17. Nobody gets better on the days they feel like going
18. Speak up for what is right, no matter how difficult
19. Sacrifice for the right things, but never at the cost of your ultimate happiness
20. No need to be inadvertently cruel, but know that it’s perfectly okay to speak your mind
21. Stop being offended by everything, ain’t nobody got time for that
22. Pick your battles wisely
23. Ride hard for the ones you love
24. Embrace change
25. View difficult situations as a challenge versus a hindrance
26. Check on your friends often; don’t wait for a cry for help to reach out
27. Sing your lungs out to your favorite songs
28. Your child won’t always remember the things your money provided, but they will remember your presence at their events and the cheers and support you provide
29. Stand tall
30. Hands up, chin down, eyes on the prize
31. Being alone is okay
32. You don’t have to justify yourself to anyone
33. A little bit of kindness, compassion, and empathy goes a long way
34. Positivity is contagious, and will create a ripple-like domino effect
35. So is negativity, so choose your path with care
36. There are 2 ways to get into pool, but no great story ever started with “I used the ladder”
37. No one remembers the name of the guy who quit
38. Win or lose, putting yourself out there is a victory in and of itself
39. Make peace with your past
40. Understand others may have more knowledge than you in certain areas, broaden your horizons
41. Try new foods, absorb the riches of taste
42. Be disciplined
43. Make a promise, and stay true to your word
44. Never a borrower nor a lender be
45. More people look up to you than you realize. Lead by example
46. Be open to love
47. Don’t write people off immediately just for having different beliefs, get to know them
48. The world isn’t black & white. There is a lot of gray
49. You have one life to live, don’t waste it
50. Life has no guarantees, except for death
51. Heartbreak isn’t the end of the world, but it’s okay to feel the hurt
52. Don’t make rash decisions based on your emotional state; i.e.: don’t fight emotional, or post an immediate status on social media, or else lash out in any quick explosion
53. Not every facet of your life needs to be broadcast to the world
54. People only post themselves in the best light as well as their highlight reels
55. Everyone cries
56. All of us are capable of more than we realize
57. Everyone you know is in pain. Buck up and get moving
58. Dogs are the best
59. Stop comparing yourself to others; your journey is entirely your own
60. Everyone is facing their own personal demons, don’t judge too harshly
61. Being different is beautiful, clamoring desperately to be unique is not
62. Sometimes we are not being buried in the dirt, but replanted in order to grow
63. Eat fresh produce and less artificial crap
64. Spend more time with friends and family
65. Quality time over texting time
66. Just because a dream is difficult, does not mean it is impossible. If you want it bad enough, you will find a way
67. Don’t let fear control your life
68. Never let someone else dictate where a fight goes. Initiate and be in control
69. Play your game, not theirs
70. You won’t ever regret the days you trained, but you will over the days you missed due to laziness
71. Just because you’re starting something later on in life, does not mean it’s pointless. The time will pass anyways, make the most of it
72. Never let anyone be comfortable disrespecting you
73. If they do not treat you right in any way, shape, or form, leave
74. Have convictions and stand by them
75. Learn to debate respectfully and without personal insults
76. You can acquire a wealth of knowledge through reading more
77. Tell your husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, friends, grandparents, aunts, uncles, children, and pets you love them at every chance you get
78. Tomorrow is a new day, but it is not guaranteed
79. Don’t go to bed angry
80. Surround yourself with those that inspire you
81. If you are consistently the best at something or smartest in that room, find a new room
82. If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you
83. Growth doesn’t happen in someone else’s comfort zone
84. There are many paths to a happy and successful life, don’t limit yourself to one journey ate is ugly, and can’t is an abominable word
85. Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue which counts.
86. Celebrate the small victories
87. Some days, getting up to take a shower is your only accomplishment, and that is perfectly okay
88. Not everyone is a genius. Not everyone is an athlete. But we all have things about us that can be celebrated
89. Don’t ever let your mind tell you that you can’t
90. If it won’t matter in 10 years from now, don’t fret over it
91. Find healthy outlets for cathartic release
92. Be safe, be smart, be adventurous, and be kind
93. Always wear your seatbelt
94. If you can change something, do it
95. Be the hero to someone you wish you had growing up
96. Don’t let others opinions of you effect you permanently
97. Go train
98. Listen too your coaches and your mentors
99. If you’re not happy, do something about it. Complaining and whining gets you nowhere
100. Always be willing to give yourself a fighting chance