1. No matter what happens, I have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
2. I should never change my personality to suit somebody else. Whilst I should be open and honest with myself about working on my flaws (everyone has them), I must always remember my strengths too.
3. I cannot necessarily rely on others to make me feel good about myself. As the word denotes, self-worth is found from within.
4. I am proud to be independent. No matter what anyone may think or opine, I moved to Germany in my early 20s, where I set up my own business and maintained my own apartment. Self-employed work may fluctuate, but those who truly know me know I am gifted and hardworking.
5. Monetary possessions mean nothing if you are not happy. Possessions fade while happiness tends to be more enduring.
6. We alone are responsible for making sure we are happy.
7. The road to happiness is not always the nicely paved, smooth one. Sometimes it is the road we walk barefoot with jagged rocks and boulders.
8. Looking through to someone’s heart is an important gift to cultivate. People often hurt us, but their words are sometimes a jumbled translation of what they truly feel inside.
9. Everything happens for a reason. You might not see it today or tomorrow, but sometimes you may look back and realize what that reason was. Sometimes reasons are stepping stones or markers in the road.
10. No matter what you do, some people may never appreciate you and persist on looking down on you. Hard as it is, it is your choice if you let them or whether you choose to walk away and engage with people who value you for who you are.
11. It takes courage to make a change, but being stuck in a rut is not a valid alternative.
12. Look after yourself and never assume that anybody else will. You are lucky if you have those who care enough about you to look out for you, but ultimately the onus is on you.
What I know
