If my January 2012 self met my January 2011 self, this is what I would tell....myself.
Eleven reminders of eleven lessons I learnt, re-learnt or continued to learn in twenty eleven.
- Stay up late on a school night. It’s worth being tired at work the next day.
- Don’t stand for injustice. The choices you make each day have the power to change another persons world.
- Heed caution when it comes to your caffeine intake. Your usual daily caffeine intake doesn't exceed one latte, so think twice about drinking a latte, a double shot latte, a bottle of coke and another latte on one day. Your friends will disown you and fellow passengers on public transport will give you weirder looks than usual.
- Don’t try and do everything in your own strength. There are others available to help and there is strength to call on greater than your own.
- Cars & mobile phones are a recipe for disaster. You might not hit a person, but you can still get hit with a $243.50 fine from a not so fine police officer riding a push bike (who you initially thought was just some delinquent tapping on your car window).
- Value friendships. Especially those who are consistent in keeping in touch - they are worth their weight in gold.
- Occasionally, try not to be so responsible. It makes life much more interesting (however, keep lessons three & five in mind).
- Do try a radical new haircut. You might be surprised with the results.
- Feelings are fickle. Know what you believe and stick to it, regardless of what your emotions are saying.
- Don’t wear a red and white striped shirt to work. Even though you are clearly going for the parisian look, all day your colleagues will refer to you as Wally, a pirate or if Christmas is around the corner....a candy cane.
- Be yourself. You don’t realise how much just being you has the power to bless those around you.
