You never know unless you try!

The last one month has been really reassuring for me. I have done the things which my mother feared most and considered impossible with me. I have survived -3oC and I have held my breath under water in a swimming pool!

What was most remarkable is that I was able to stay longest in the pool compared with my contemporaries with whom I was learning to swim. That for me was a big deal because it contradicted my mother’s beliefs of me.

As a child my doctor recommended swimming for me stating it would help my lungs function better. At that time, I was very frail, in-and-out of hospital, thus my mum defied the doctor’s order because she feared for my life. Having reviewed my experiences these last weeks, I cannot but think that she should have let me try.

Now, I realise that you never know if you can do it unless you try. I have always wanted to visit my friend in Canada but my family always says I won’t survive the cold. Now I know I can. I am proud of what I have become and the things I can do.

I think we miss out on life for failing to try and it is disheartening because, unlike money and every material thing, one treasure that will live with us forever is life’s experiences!

Life lessons from 2011

As the year quickly draws to a close, I cannot but reminisce and while it was generally a good year, I learnt some life lessons which I would like share.

1. People who introduce themselves as Mrs. XYZ, happily married, are not necessarily happy in their marriages.

2. People who say you dress to show-off simply because you always dress nice, are simply ENVIOUS of you and wish they had your life. They are HATERS!

3. Promises are mere words of a desperate man.

4. Love your life and enjoy it because people wish they had your life.

5. It pays to be private, when there’s a little mystery about you; life is a whole lot more enjoyable.

6. Six months is enough time to see the good and bad side of every new friend – male or female!

7. People who call you insecure do so to make themselves happy, because they are insecure themselves.

8. Never be in a hurry to buy a plane ticket, you could get a better deal if you wait a little bit or a need to cancel the trip may just arise.

9. There’s no perfect marriage or relationship, enjoy every moment of what you have.

10. Your next relationship will always be better than the last, hard as it maybe, summon courage to open up your heart to someone new after a failed relationship.

11. Never judge anyone based on hear-say, give them a chance to prove themselves. You never know, they may turn out to be the best people you ever met.

12. First impressions are not always true, give people another chance to make a first impression.

13. Some people and places that lack outward finesse sometimes have gold to give.

14. Try not to borrow people money all of the time no matter how desperate they may seem, they may just end up taking you for granted.

15. The people who bless you are those you least expect to.

16. Excellence is not perfection; it is giving your best in everything you do.