Lessons I’ve learned in life

It is healthy to admit, “I don’t know.”

Sometimes, acting out of character reminds you who you are.

When you cringe at your past, it’s a sign you’ve grown and changed.

Don’t chase people. Friends, lovers – let them meet you halfway. Otherwise, let it ride, and focus on yourself and other people.

Not everybody likes you, and this is okay. You don’t have to “prove them wrong.” You don’t have to like everybody either.

There are going to be some people that form very strong ideas about you in their head. You won’t be able to change their mind, so don’t try. Just continue being who you are, whether they see it or not.

You can never make everyone happy all of the time.

Trying hard to be “normal” has only ever resulted in tragedy.

“Normal” is subjective.

If somebody says they can’t love you, you’re never going to change their mind. It’s not you.

You don’t always have to explain yourself.

You don’t need to have an opinion on everything.

You can always do more research on something you feel uninformed about.

Consider all the factors that make you who you are, and realize that other people are also as complicated.

“A clay Buddha can’t cross water; a wooden Buddha can’t survive a fire” (Joshu). Religion is about how you live, not material objects or aesthetics.

Strive to live a life you can live with. Try to make decisions that you can look back on and truly say to yourself, “I did the best I could.”

You might not like something, but that doesn’t necessarily make it wrong. Conversely, something being popular or common doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right.

You don’t have to force yourself to finish a book that you don’t enjoy reading.