On What I Know To Be True In Life

The world is round. The tides will turn. The sky is blue.

Sitting by the sea, breathing in the salt and that feeling of vastness ahead of you, will always make you feel better.

You will make mistakes. You will make mistakes at eight, twenty-eight, fifty-eight. There is no linear path to perfection. Learn the lessons. Forgive yourself. Move on.

Eat. Nourish your body and your soul. Gorge on the freshest foods, on apples grown in your garden and fish caught on the same day and cakes made for you by friends with chocolate and love. Have a second piece. Eat without guilt, without counting calories, without fear.

Enjoy the little things. Breathe in the steam of your first cup of tea in the morning. Swirl your wine at dinner.

Appreciate the people in your life. Pick up the phone, put a pen to paper, take time to see them. Give second chances. Love deeply and whole-heartedly, and again.

Be kind. Everyone is afraid, really; everyone has pain and hurt and baggage to deal with. Try to see the world from other people’s points of view. Making someone a cup of tea, listening, a surprise visit, holding the door open, buying a homeless man a coffee, smiling at a stranger…it all makes a difference.

Travel. Travel as much and as far as you can. Get lost on foreign soil. Dance until dawn on the beach. Become best friends with someone you meet on a train and share life stories, knowing you may never see each other again.

Put your phone down. Look around more often.

Spend as much time outside as you can, come rain, snow, or shine.

Be opinionated. Be forthright. Stand up for yourself and for others when they need it. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you are too independent or strong-minded.

Always have a book in your bag.

Dress for yourself. Dye your hair all the colors. Try out all the lipsticks. Wear flats. You never could walk in heels.

Take risks. Make the journey, take the plunge—but always have enough money for a ticket home.

Buy yourself fresh flowers.

Let go. And then let go a little more.

Laugh.

Even on the hardest of days, be grateful. Always see the good around you whenever you can.

And if you can’t, you can try again tomorrow.