SO WHAT DID I LEARN?

We all fall victim to growing up at different stages, but with that inevitable growth and progression into adulthood we learn a great deal about ourselves and the world around us. As a writer, I have become very self analytical, and I use my songs as a very selfish form of therapy. In amongst the song lyrics that fill my journals, you will find scribbled notes that provide a synopsis for not only the chapter ahead in the journal, but that specific period of my life. Whilst browsing through this afternoon, with a smile on my face, the breeze blowing gently through the window and a lot of hope in my heart, I noticed just how much I had gained from documenting my life in lyrics, chords and melodies. With that being said, I thought I would share 30 of the most important life lessons etched into those books to date. So here we go, hopefully you can relate to some of what my journey has taught me thus far...

30 things to remember, to reflect on, to educate yourself on:
1. If you want to know how truly rich are, count up all the things you have that money can't buy.

2. Travel gets you lost just enough to find yourself.

3. Everyone's scared, some people just hide it better.

4. Searching for a reason as to why things happen the way they do, is a waste of time. Do not look for logic in situations that fail to spell it out automatically, it doesn't always exist. .

5. Dreams are important. You know those people you look up to and become infatuated with because their life is what you once pictured yours to be like? They are the ones that remind us that passion and dreams live on every day- become one of the hopeful souls you admire most.

6. You are born and you die, but everything else you do in between is up to you. Never forget the power you have over your own life and the decisions that you make.

7. Disconnect. Not from people, but from technology. Put your phone, tablet, laptop away and enjoy breakfast, tea, lunch, dinner, dessert with the people around you. Ask them what their passionate about and take interest in their greatest interests.

8. Life is merely a series of choices, good or bad, own yours and make a concerted effort to learn from each as you grow.

9. Be the best version of you that you can be, you owe it not only to yourself but to everyone around you.

10. Push yourself to sit in the 10% of people that actually work towards their passion, rather than those that turn up to job which they complain about on a daily basis.

11. Being alone is empowering. Know that, embrace that. Force yourself to be independent and do things that exercise that state of being.

12. If it made you happy at one time cherish that thought. Never question something that brought you joy, even if it makes you cringe now! It got you to right here - move forward.

13. You're happy place is somewhere that should be visited often both spiritually and physically if possible.

14. Love is not limited; it exists in many forms.

15. Balance is self defined, don't let someone else determine it for you.

16. Going against the grain is much more interesting than doing what people expect you to do. Those that leave the greatest marks on the world big or small weren't the popular kids in school- you know why? Because the popular kids will always do exactly what society expects them to do. Don't be afraid to be different- embrace it.

17. It's ok to be sad once and a while. It's an emotion, just like being tired, hungry, happy, hopeful; it's a passing moment. Appreciate the lows, for they make the highs that much greater.

18. It's ok to miss someone. It means that they left an irreplaceable hole in your life, be grateful that they once filled it. 'How lucky are we to have loved something so much that it makes it so hard to say goodbye'.

19. Things end, people leave and things change. It's inevitable. The less you resist it, the better off you will be.

20. Some opportunities only ever come once, so take it.

21. You don't have all the time in the world, so stop living for tomorrow.

22. Share your passion, you might just encourage other people to share theirs.

23. 90% of the time you're not having a world ending crisis, you just need a cup of tea, to take three deep breaths and let the moment pass.

24. Life is about the people you meet, and the things that you create with them. So be kind, be adventurous and seek out all types of people that encourage only the best that you have to offer.

25. Do something that scares you every single day. Life begins where your comfort zone ends. Challenge yourself.

26. You don't need anyone that doesn't need you. In fact you don't NEED anyone. Be enough standing strong on your own, and those that you want in your life will gravitate to you and be encouraged by your strength.

27.People love to be around other positive people. Remember that the next time you sit down to catch up with a friend. Keep the gossip away and positive experiences or plans at the forefront of conversation.

28.Live with gratitude. In fact make a list right now of all the things that you are grateful for. Add one thing to it every night. Big or small, you will find that there are a lot of great things to be thankful for.

29. Not every single day is great, but if you look hard enough, you can find something great in every day.

30. Where you invest your love, you invest your life.