10 Things I Wish I Had Learned Sooner in Life

By Sarah Aterrado - August 01, 2015

It's August. Cheeses, where did time go?!

I have made it more than halfway through 2015 and thought it would be good to see how I'm doing. I know it's still early to say this but so far 2015 turned out quite well. Although turning 30 this year didn't seem to have a really big impact in my life like how I expected it should be. Perhaps I am still having a hard time realizing that I've lived three decades already because deep inside, I still feel like I'm in my early twenties or maybe even younger. But of course, for 30 years, I've seen how life can sometimes be sneaky in delivering valuable lessons right in front of me. And there were those times that I just wish I had known them sooner in life. Just like...


1. Being yourself doesn't mean you don't have to change. Simply put, just stop being a half-assed version of yourself and aim for a better you. Yes, it is true that you have to "be yourself", but don't use it as an excuse to stop working on improving yourself.

2. It's okay to say No. Just because you don't want to come off as rude, insulting, or in any way, you don't want to offend or raise a conflict doesn't mean you're obligated to say Yes to the things you'd rather turn down. If it doesn't enrich your life in one way or another, then learn the art of saying no politely.

3. Being selfish is not a bad thing. And sometimes it is even essential. You need to respect yourself too by acknowledging your own needs. If you don't, you run the risk of completely becoming stressed and burnt out that will eventually lead you to suffer the ill-effects of living a life of misery. Come on, be nice to yourself. Book for a vacation that you deserve.


4. No one is too smart or too tough for love.

5. You don't live to please everybody. Go ahead and try - and watch yourself fail miserably. Some people will hate you just because. And it's not worth wasting your time trying to please people who don't even give an eff about you. You will realize you are happier the moment you start not giving a f*ck about what others think.

6. Life is too short for reality tv shows, bad movies, social media, crappy jobs, and shitty people.

7. You don't have to be absolutely too forgiving. People always tell you to simply let go of the past and release all the negativity. Just forgive and forget, they say. But in reality and sadly, life doesn't work that way. Regardless of what the society and religion tell you about forgiveness, there are those times when you just have to take a stand against the kind of behavior you won't tolerate. And not forgiving easily is as good as sending a message that it's not okay to be treated that way. Don't be pressured to forgive just because you think it's the right thing to do. Give yourself a time not to forgive... until you're ready and when the time is right.

8. It's worth reading the instruction manuals, terms and conditions, and the fine print. It can save your ass, your money, and your life.

9. Sunblock is essential.

10. You will never know when you are "grown up". As I have mentioned earlier, I thought I would feel different when I become an adult. But the fact is, I still feel pretty much the same way I was ten years ago. I am still that same girl with eyes that sparkle at the sight of a Nerds candy. Adults miss life just because they're adults. Fun becomes underrated. Come on, it's okay to be silly and do something crazy sometimes. Sometimes it serves well not to think as an adult, it keeps life simple.

Perhaps, it's an "adult" thing when you contemplate about your life. Or simply because I don't have internet right now. Hence, this post. Either way, I can say life has so much to learn. And what makes it powerful is that you'll never know when you'll learn it and you will always learn it the hard way.

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38 comments

  1. Luckily , I've learned some of you've mentioned at a young age. My attention was caught with your issue #3.. Being selfish is not a bad thing. no offence, I don't agree.

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    1. I'm not saying we have to be selfish all the time. What I'm just trying to say is we just have to leave something for ourselves. :)

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  2. I was once on the same boat with you when I reach 30's. Life is an unending path of learning new things. Important is we learn from it and we move on.

    I had a big laugh at number 9. Indeed!

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    1. Yes! I just started using sunblock last year. I should've been using it years before. I'm always under the sun. Haha

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  3. you got me on number 5. I am so much of kissing asses that i realized why do i have to please people just to get a one sided benefit. then it hit me that there is no need. things will come on your way if you do it your way...

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  4. Nice post about family and relationships. let me share mine, i wish i learn blogging in highschool.

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  5. I think we all have a lot of things we wished we learned sooner in life than later. Would've saved us from a lot of embarrassing scenes and painful moments, but that's how we learn. And I think everything happens in their own time. We learn lessons at the right time. I know I wished I knew that Santa Claus isn't real earlier! Haha.

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    1. Yes, that's true. Everything happens at the right time. And. I never believed in Santa though. Haha

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  6. i love this part "Life is too short for reality tv shows, bad movies, social media, crappy jobs, and shitty people." i do not watch TV, but i watch some stuff online because i have nothing else to do during my before bed / rest after a long day of work. Even though i want to be somewhere out there, i currently reside and work somewhere w/o even a mall. However i do go out on weekends and holidays, specially vacations i go abroad :D

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    1. Same here! I don't watch TV also. I think I've only watched one tv show in months, and that was during the time when GGV had Duterte as a guest. haha

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  7. I have my own list of lessons as well that I have learned first hand. Definitely saying no is okay and you just have to make the statement constructive in a way that's not offending. :)

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    1. And yes. And took me years to actually master the art of saying NO.

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  8. Growing up is enriching your experiences in life. The basic things in life to learn is to know where did you come from, why are you here, and where are you going after your earthly life. It seems too complicated by you will know them as you age.

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  9. I like the part of saying NO and being a bit selfish because saying NO takes courage and understanding that something bigger is more important. Being selfish also means that you leave something for yourself which can make you a better person.

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  10. I agree with you when you said you don't live to please everybody. People will love you as what you are and don't be sugarcoated. In that way, they will like you too.

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    1. Yeah. I've had miserable life trying to please everybody. But now, everything just seems so light and breezy.

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  11. Completely agree on all, specially 6 & 8! 6 - nothing happens if we mind the negative things that people say, they're useless! 8 - haha, very true! Companies are becoming very very clever right now, it's very important to read the terms/conditions.

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    1. Yeah, I learned number 8 when a company was trying to rip me off in some way. Good thing I've read everything in the contract. Haha

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  12. Thoughts on being selfish I guess depends on certain situation or circumstances. About your #9 issue, I am guilty with that I am an outdoor person who hates sunblock before.

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    1. Yes, it always depend on the situation. It's not good if we're selfish all the time.

      And I actually hate sunblock until now. I don't like the sticky feel. But since I am always under the sun, I have no choice but to use it.

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  13. So in general, a lot of your entries are abstract and deep in thought, so I got caught of guard when I read, "Sunblock is essential." Haha. You should add moisturizer on the list as well :)

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  14. Number 7 is really applicable to me right now. It is indeed very hard to forgive someone who you're not that ready to forgive. It does take some time and when the time is right, you'll know.

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    1. Yes, it does take time. Hindi natin pwede ipilit. We shouldn't forgive just halfheartedly. That's why we just have to wait when the time is right. :)

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  15. Most us is not using sunblock eversince. HAHAH But If I have things to be learn, I wish my parents teach me to swim. :)

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    1. I don't really like using sunblock too. But I just have too. I'm just wondering if you know how to swim now?

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  16. Super agree with this >>> 7. You don't have to be absolutely too forgiving.

    Sometimes our patience test our character, if you always tend to forgive and forget it..others will take it as "OKAY LANG SA KANYA YUN"..."WALA LANG YUN SA KANYA"...what happened they will take advantage and I really hate that.

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    1. Exactly. If you are too forgiving, people will also take advantage of that. Tama ka, most people will think na "okay lang yun."

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  17. Amen to sunblock! Even at an early age, one must start taking care of the skin.

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  18. #10!!!!! Totally agree with all, but 10 is what makes my life better - the best thing is letting yourself be a kid here and there!
    Xoxo,Nyx

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    1. That's true. Life is better if we dont let the kid in us grow up. :)

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  19. OMG! #9 is a smack on my face hahah :D :D :D Never thought sunblock will have a great effect on life. haha :P

    But shitty people will really spoil your activites. And I got one friend who become a shitty one. Crap -_-

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    1. Yes. That's really one thing that I wish I've been doing earlier. I hate the sticky feeling of sunblock, that's why it took me some time before I fully embraced its essential in life. Haha.

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  20. I think we all think this, but in general, we should just live for the moment x

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  21. Such an awesome post full of great ideas! I like the first point it holds a lot of depth.

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