
I just had a birthday and I’m officially old. It’s nice to be old because I can be as senile, long-winded, grumpy and as big a bitch as I want, and if anybody asks me why I’m that way, I can snort and say, “Chiu! Cannot meh??” Another perk of being old is I now have the license to share all the wisdom I’ve gleaned through the years. After living for so long, the amount of salt I’ve eaten is now frightfully close to the amount of rice I’ve eaten, so here are 30 things I’ve learned:
- You grow stronger when life sucks.
- Things are never as bad or scary as you expect.
- This too shall pass.
- Thinking is over-rated (and while we’re at it, so is Drew Barrymore).
- Worst case scenarios almost never happen.
- The best antidote to fear is action.
- You will regret the things you haven’t done, more than those you have.
- There’s never a ‘right’ time to do something; just do it. Once the body starts, the mind will follow.
- Things can take a miraculous turn for the better in a blink of an eye (unfortunately, the opposite is also true)
- Stop trying to be perfect – it will kill you and nobody will even care.
- Never make decisions when in emotional turmoil; you will almost always regret it.
- It’s okay to give yourself a break sometimes. The world will still turn, the grass will still grow.
- You never feel bad after a good run. But you’ll feel bad after a bad one. Um, what’s my point again?
- Never quit something just because it’s tough.
- Life will not always go the way you want. Deal with it.
- You don’t have to like everything you do.
- Looking good is about posture and proportions, not a smoking hot body (although that helps).
- Don’t believe everything you read or see.
- It’s okay to feel bad every once in a while.
- Don’t listen to the advice of stupid people.
- Appreciate your ability to feel, whether it’s happiness, sadness or %@$#@$#$!!@ – it means you’re not dead yet.
- Be passionate, be expressive, be genuine.
- When pissed off, pick a song that best expresses how you feel and sing it at the top of your lungs (who cares if the driver next to you thinks you’re nuts?)
- News flash: the world does not revolve around you.
- The worst time to make a decision is at 6am in the morning (because the question is always about whether you should wake up and the answer is always ‘no’).
- Don’t wear T-shirts with silly sayings; they just make you look tacky.
- Take lots of pictures. You will be glad you did when you hit 60.
- Detach, detach, detach.
- Eat chocolate every once in a while.
- Contrary to what those below 18 probably think, life does get better as you grow older.
17 Comments
October 8, 2009 at 3:57 PM
U had a birthday? cool Happy Birthday:)
wheres the cake?
BTW i couldnt agree more to almost all the 30 things u mentioned, and u expressed them nicely …..but still, sigh
PS: So how old r u now *grumpy face*
October 9, 2009 at 5:15 AM
Hmm … having 30 points here makes me sound like I just turned 30, which isn’t true. I’m 32!!! I was just too lazy to think of the other 2, hahaha. but honestly, I don’t feel a day over … 31
October 9, 2009 at 9:05 AM
there is nothing to feel bad about, i believe girls get prettier, graceful, gorgeous, sexier (not to mention bearable) after 30
October 8, 2009 at 6:25 PM
30 only? What about 50? 100?
October 9, 2009 at 5:16 AM
Why you so kan-cheong, can’t wait for me to turn into an old hag ah? actually, i have a lot more pearls of wisdom but i figured I’d better hold back. can’t reveal them all at once. the world might not be able to handle so much Wisdom – yeah right!
October 9, 2009 at 9:10 AM
waiting with eager anticipation! Nooooooooo.
October 9, 2009 at 12:56 AM
30 wisdom from a lady who claim old yet look like 18 !!! muaahahaha… blessed birthday Winnie
October 9, 2009 at 5:17 AM
That’s right. I look 18 … times 3!
October 9, 2009 at 1:16 AM
Your at the prime of your life babe! Enjoy!!
October 9, 2009 at 5:18 AM
I know! I can’t wait to be 40!
wait, who said that???
October 9, 2009 at 5:13 AM
If more people were like you, they wouldn’t need counselling and I’d never graduate. Haha. I don’t know when I can come back to KL, depends when I finish my 200 clinical hours. Do you have any friends in Sydney who don’t have your level of self-awareness and need a good kick in the- I mean, need counselling?
October 9, 2009 at 5:20 AM
I’m pretty insane. why don’t you do your clinical hours on me? we can do it virtually … and you’re gonna pass with flying colours too. 200 hours? puh-leeze. that’s child’s play. with my level of insanity, i can easily give you 400 and that’s just the first 20 years of my so-called life!
October 9, 2009 at 12:26 PM
JonyBr, haha, yeah … I definitely think I was a lot more insufferable when I was in my twenties. not that I’m not insufferable now … but I am a tad better!
October 9, 2009 at 12:42 PM
No #12 – and the birds will still sing!!
October 9, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Haha … yeah, they most certainly will
October 11, 2009 at 11:25 AM
I’m 24 and am pretty inspired by what you’ve just written! Thanks!
October 12, 2009 at 4:05 AM
Hi Jen, thanks
since you’re only 24, you can stop at number 24 on the list … and work your way down year by year till 30. Cheers!