There's an inane amount of ridiculous choices I've made in my life. From simple to extreme, here are a few things that I've decidedly chosen to never do again.
1. Eat The Same Thing For A Week In A Row
It's one thing to try escargot once and get hooked on it. It's another to make the decision to love it so much that you have it every single day. Well, whilst on a cruise, for a week straight - my best friend and I did just that. By the third day we were in agony; but as we are stubborn at heart, we held on to the very last day of said "vacation". At this point, even the thought of escargot disgusted us, and rightly so. In the long run, I do not recommend ever overeating anything; especially delicacies such as escargot.
2. Do Everything With Someone
This is similar to eating one food for a lengthy amount of time. Sometimes you may have a friend that you feel you can do anything and everything with. However, you never truly know until you try. When taking into consideration the full context of 'everything', it becomes clear that not everything is meant to be shared. This is true, as is the idea that there are some things you can never forget, or some lines that should never be crossed. Such things include: going to the bathroom together - or rather, waiting inside the stall for your friend to do their business. There is such a thing as boundaries, and even if you're extremely close with someone, you may find it difficult, if not a little weird to do everything together.
3. Compromise My Beliefs
Do not allow someone to define what things mean to you. Most everything is what you make it and you should never let anyone diminish that. Having ones own beliefs stepped on is nothing short of upsetting. Allowing yourself to compromise doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing, however; when it feels forced or overwhelming that should be a red flag. Hold onto those aspects of yourself, don't change based on how you want others to see you, or based off of someone else's own standards. Live by your own standards.
4. Return To What Hasn't Worked
When given the opportunity to get out of a situation that isn't working and you take it, it's generally unwise to rewind and do it all over again. This sentiment works in that when you make a mistake, normally you learn and move on from them. In the case that you make the same mistake again, you find yourself either in the same or a similar outcome. Why return to a job, relationship, lifestyle, if you were unhappy and you already lived through the hardships they included? Unless the situation has changed significantly, it is foolhardy to repeat it.
5. Believe I Can Please Everyone
In life, you may be able to please a few people in some instances. However, it's irrational to believe you can do anything and everything to make someone happy. You have to draw a line somewhere. Your health and happiness come first and foremost and if you find yourself overtly held up by things that are for others, you should slow down and think about why you're doing those things. Who do you have to please, and for what reason do you feel it necessary to please them? It's incredibly difficult to make someone happy all the time; not to mention do so with many people. It's fine if you want to help people out; but if you live your life doing things only for the benefit of another, then perhaps you should be doing it as a day job.
6. Treat Pain Like A Competition
Don't let your experiences reduce the experiences of others. No two pains are the same and we all manage things differently. Shared pain brings people together. Indeed while no two pains are the same, it is still useful to come together and find a commonality between them. There is strength in numbers and sure, you may not find someone who went through the exact hardship that you did but at least they too have gone through something. For example, while you may not find someone whose dad also died of colon cancer after two and a half years; you may find someone whose mom passed away due to breast cancer after a few months. In such a case there is no argument over whose pain is greater, only heartbreak and the coming together of two people that lost their worlds. Such is why you shouldn't resent someone for 'having it easier', or try to make a point that your pain 'is greater'. Because, in a world of harsh realities, why make grieving or coping more difficult than it already is?
7. Allow My Past To Define How I See Myself
Here are a few sentiments to keep in mind when thinking about the past. You are not your past. Your past helps shape you. You have nothing to prove to others, but everything to prove to yourself. Be the change you want to see. "Give what you expect, reflect what you desire, become what you respect, and mirror what you admire." - Anonymous
8. Forget To Put On Sunscreen
There's a difference between forgetting to put on sunscreen and deciding to not put any on. The difference being that in one case you've forgotten about the horrid pain you'll likely later be in, and in the other; you also have forgotten about the horrid pain you'll be subjected to later. Having gone to a water park and only putting on one spray of "water-proof" sunblock, my mother came home to the human equivalent of a fire hydrant. The irritability and discomfort that came with the second degree, and somewhat third-degree burns was indescribable. When your skin is so burnt that you can barely sleep even when laying still, you know it's a problem. I highly suggest that you put a reminder on your phone to put on sunblock when you know you'll be subject to high exposure.
9. Be Afraid To Make Mistakes
You shouldn't be afraid to make mistakes to the point of not living your life fully. Such is a terrible waste of your skills and talents, and robs you from truly enjoying and exploring your life. Mistakes are a natural part of life, they teach us an abundance of lessons and shape us into who we are. Mistakes are a large part of your past and a large part of your future. If you're are afraid of failure, you'll never succeed. Apply the knowledge you acquired from your mistakes and experiences and apply it to your life.
10. Apologize For Being Happy
Life is full of people, each with their own opinions and emotions. Many people can be comfortable in dysfunction, but uncomfortable in happiness. This has nothing to do with you or your emotions. If you're happy, be happy! Never let anyone make you feel guilty for it. "Get over trying to figure out a way to justify your happiness so it makes sense to other people, because until they get to the point where they can truly embrace joy, you'll never make sense to them anyhow". - Anonymous
