My Last Day | 36 Life Lessons I Learned at Age 36

Here it is: my last day of being 36 years old. Before I step into being another year older (lol) I decided to take a moment to reflect on some of the life-lessons that I learned over the past 12 months and challenge myself to make it into a ’36 at 36’ list. Here it goes, and I hope that you find these lessons to be inspiring to you as well.

36 Life Lessons I Learned at Age 36:

There is more power in embracing your mistakes than there is in pushing yourself to be perfect.
Care for others must be balanced with care for yourself—if you’re not happy, you are not able to make others happy.
True friends are not the ones who are around only when you are at your best. True friends are the ones who continue to stick by you and endure you at your worst.
Life was not meant to be lived just ‘making it’, but it is to be experienced to the fullest.
People who are quickest to pass judgment on other people or situations are the ones who have the most things wrong with themselves. They don’t need anger, but rather understanding.
There is no such thing as ‘partial forgiveness’—if you see someone and the first thing that comes to mind is what they’ve done, you have not fully forgiven them (or yourself).
Even in the darkest of situations, there is a tiny candle that lives inside of everyone that bears an eternal flame—it is called hope.
Blessings are not always returned to you in the exact way that you gave them. Most times the ‘alternate’ way is what was most needed for you at the time you received it.
There are many who believe that support is a one-way street. Don’t let that stop you from being supportive to others—just learn to be more discerning.
True mental clarity cannot come until you face everything that is blocking it.
It’s alright if you cannot resolve everything right away. Sometimes just acknowledging the issue and releasing your feelings about it will work wonders.
Tears do more than just cleanse the eyes — they cleanse the soul as well.
Sometimes one of the hardest things to do in life is to get started.
There is nothing wrong with admitting when you’re wrong.
What matters most is not what you promise to do once things get better, what matters is what you do right now in the place that you are.
A huge factor in stepping out on faith is having confidence in your abilities.
Good intentions without surety and proper planning can lead to costly mistakes.
Some things (and people) are just not worth the energy nor the fight.
A sound mind = sound choices, ideas and decisions.
The times of life that are the hardest are the times to hold on the hardest.
Self-defeating thoughts should never be ignored-always face them and deal with them head-on so that you can move on.
What others think of you is none of your business.
Real progress does not come without real work and sacrifices.
Life is a Blessing. Like all Blessings, it should always be valued, respected, and appreciated.
Respect is earned through consistency.
It is a sign of growth when you can instantly correct yourself the moment you realize that you are out of order.
When you have a genuine love for yourself, you will be mindful of how you treat others.
Transparency is a rare and priceless, matchless gift.
Keep your focus on what you do, and you won’t have time to focus on what others do.
Life cannot be lived through the eyes, hearts, and minds of others; only through your own.
There is no way to successfully help someone who does not want to be helped. There are those who are comfortable right where they are. You may not like it, but it is best to accept it.
When we do not get the things that we want in life, there is always a reason—and sometimes the reason is because it was in our best interest.
Little things matter just as much—if not more—than the big things.
Never allow anyone or anything to take you out of your true character.
With diligence and belief in the possibilities, any goal or idea can be achieved.
“Courage is the art of being the only one who knows that you’re scared to death.” (Earl Wilson)

So there you have it—36 life lessons that I learned during this past year of being 36! This year has been one of the most challenging, as so many changes happened in such a short time. I admit that there are some that I am still trying to adapt to! Nevertheless, overall it was a good year and I am very excited to see what the upcoming year has in store. One thing that I know for sure is whatever happens these life lessons will help me to make the best out of age 37!

What life lessons have you learned so far this year? Can you relate to any of the life lessons that I have learned? Share with me below or drop me a line at: melisasource@yahoo.com.