Hello everyone! Hope you all are doing well. I pray that God gives you the strength to overcome all your challenges! I’m quite happy today because this was my birthday week! I honestly hadn’t expected so many people to wish me, (because I’m a bit introvert) but this year was different!
So this was my 25th birthday! Woo!! Feels like I’m aging 😂! Well I already have one or two grey hair. So maybe yes! (I don’t fear wrinkles, but dark circles are not welcomed)
Many of my friends have got married, some have kids (hats off to them, I can’t handle my own mood and they are handling their kids), whereas some are pursuing their Masters degrees. What I’m doing? Rocking my pyjamas and writing this blog whilst sipping my coffee!
Of the 25 years, the past 10 years have been quite transforming. Because it was in these years we need to choose our career, college and the perfect job.
I guess I’m missing something!
How can I forget the irresistible urge to find the perfect life partner 😉! And then once we are done with this treasure hunt of finding the one, who’ll stay with us until the day we replace our original teeth with dentures, it occurs to us that relationships aren’t just about celebrating anniversaries!
Each of us have been through some bad stuff and in the process have learnt a few lessons, so here’s my list of 10 lessons I have learnt in the past 25 years!
In this blog, I would be emphasizing more on the points I learnt as a growing woman.
1. Know your finances!
There is nothing in this world that can argue with this point. Financial independence is must. Early financial independence much better. I started working at the age of 20, which is quite common. But I would suggest if we start working a bit early, maybe by 18 or 19 years of age, could be a part time job related to the field you are studying or would like to make a career in that field. Or it could be any job like at a cake store or any kind of simple job that you can handle along with your studies, projects, assignments. The money you would save from these jobs would help you to pursue your masters degrees or maybe you could do something else, like visit the place you have always wanted to travel to!
2. Take up internships
Suppose that in your vicinity there isn’t any job opening for a part time job. So it’s completely alright to do an unpaid internship, if you can afford to do. If it’s paid well and good. Doing an internship while being in the second or final year of college can help you prepare for the bigger world outside your college. Let me know in the comments below your experience at your first internship / job!
3. Find a good friend before you find a boyfriend
We are living in an age where guidance is equal to Google! But having a real person to guide you is anytime better. Now this person could be your friend, anyone from the family or from your college or workplace. And only you have the power to find the right mentor for yourself. Sometimes we might find things around ourselves a bit blurry, during such times it is always beneficial to have atleast one person who can help calm down our mind.
4. Watch your money!
In the initial days of your career it is important to have a budget, a practical budget that includes all the expenses that you must do to carry on your daily life. Now the reason I am advocating for a budget right from the initial days, so that it becomes a habit. This habit will help you to take better financial decisions in your life ahead.
5. Grow your savings
So you have got your first job, which could be your dream job, you are earning a decent salary and you also spend your money wisely. But what do you do with your savings? Now this is a very subjective question. Because each of us have different aims to achieve with our savings. But if in case you’re not much aware about the many long and short term options where you can invest your money, you should start educating yourself. I want to make it very clear here, I only want to encourage you to keep yourself updated with available options, where you can grow your saved money. As a beginner you would want to keep your money safe, so search for options wherein you can earn a decent interest but at the same time your principal investment stays intact. Once you know how the financial markets work, you can go for advanced options like mutual funds, stocks and bonds. Along with investment, insurance is also an important topic to which I would like to draw your attention. If in case you are the sole earning member of your family, having a medical insurance is helpful. Remember these are crucial decisions and need guidance from experts before you put your hard earned money anywhere.
6. Health is wealth
So we discussed a lot about the money matters, let’s discuss now about our real wealth, our health. I think female health is the least discussed topic in the context of feminism. We talk about our right to wear whatever we want, but hardly about our menstrual health. It is very important to track our periods. Our periods are the indicator of our health. If you are missing your periods for 3 consecutive months, you need to see a gynaecologist. Similarly, if you are experiencing excess bleeding during your periods, you must see a gynaecologist. Periods are not just an indicator of our fertility (and I hate it when people look at our uterus only as a baby making machine) but are also an indicator of our overall health. Here is a simple blog that outlines the importance of regular periods.
7. Get some sweat!
Well this point makes me ponder what are your favourite physical activities? Let me know in the comments below. My personal favourite is Yoga. Because it’s very economical. At the most I require a yoga mat. I can do it at my home, at my own pace and there are many YouTube and Instagram channels for guidance(all for free). Some two years back I had enrolled into a 6 months yoga session and that’s where my interest started developing. Here are two Instagram accounts I would like to recommend, Adell Bridges and Hannah Barrett.
8. Keep your hobbies alive!
Once we enter our 20s it becomes a bit difficult to keep up with our hobbies. We have many other priorities to be fulfilled and in this race the one thing that’s close to our heart, our hobbies are left behind. Wherever you are in your life, whatever be your hobby, take out some time for yourself atleast on your weekends.
9. To be in good books!
Sounds very cliche, right? But it is most useful advice one can give to anyone. Tell your friends to read books and tell strangers as well. I’m sure both of them will receive this advice happily. Which books should you read? It’s completely your choice, there is a book for every reader. Reading makes you curious, makes you question things around you, makes you sensitive towards others and the list goes one!
10. Backpacking my own city
I’m missing all those places I have travelled to in my city. All those small cafes, those narrow lanes, the commute through local trains, the museums and art exhibitions! I pray the world recovers from this current crisis as soon as possible. It is very helpful if you know the hidden corners of your own city, maybe some gemstones are hiding in those corners!
11. The eleventh point
Life is short but don’t make it even more shorter by rushing for instant happiness. Take time. Understand. Cry if you wish to, don’t if you don’t want to. But don’t rush for anything. Don’t rush for the perfect relationship. Don’t rush for the perfect life. Try to accept the beauty of life in it’s slowness, in it’s randomness. As an introvert it becomes tough to get along with random people, situations and places. A strange kind of anxiety strikes in our minds and we become repulsive and aggressive. Use this spike in anxiety for your benefit. Question things, but don’t run for answers. Just wait for them. I’m not against taking efforts to understand life, but don’t break yourself completely for a few heart breaks. Your every emotion is true, your every action had a reason. But life is unpredictable. This is a lesson I’m learning presently. And I’m sure there are many more lessons on their way!
There are many more points I would love to write but I wish to keep them for another blog. It’s better to not over stuff our minds!
Have a great weekend!
Stay calm
Best wishes,
Akshaya!
The Quiet Reader 