I can’t think of a time when I’ve looked back on a year and thought about any life lessons I’ve learnt.

Instead, I tend to look at a life lesson when it happens, and think about how I could have done things differently, or think about how I can avoid going through them again.

So to mix things up a little bit, I thought that I would look back at last year and see what life lessons I learnt.

Having them in writing will also allow me to remember that I’ve actually learnt these things, and remind me to grow from them, and change how they may affect me in the future.

Here are the life lessons I learnt last year, along with some of my thoughts and future actions on them.

I hope that by doing this I inspire you to look back on your year, and make a note of any life lessons you learnt as well, and how you may grow from them going forward.

Life lesson 1 – some family relationships are just bad

This is a bit of a negative life lesson to start with, but sometimes no matter how hard you try there is nothing you can do to change a crappy relationship that you have with a family member.

There’s no amount of smiles, hard work, attention, or anything that you can do to change the way anyone feels about you.

Sometimes they just don’t like you, and they can’t hide it, and if the relationship is with a parent there comes a lot of judgement and opinions by strangers on your part in any friction.

This is a life lesson that’s been a big part of my life, and one that is still present today. It’s a lesson that I have to continually work on, and one that I don’t have a definite way to overcome.

The only thing I can do to work on this life lesson is to try not to take things personally, grin and bear a lot of it, decrease the amount of time I spend with this person, and limit the personal information I tell them.

Life lesson 2 – everyone is replaceable at work

2021 was a bad year work wise, after returning to work from maternity leave my role was suddenly taken away from me, and my boss got away with A LOT as a result.

Something I already knew about work, but was reminded of last year, is that everyone is replaceable. If a workplace doesn’t want you, or your department, they will find a way to get rid of you.

Due to this experience I’ve learnt that I’m not to blame for these things, it’s not my skills, ability, or output that was to blame in this situation, it was all my boss and her selfish needs, which has helped me to overcome this.

Life lesson 3 – treat yourself well

This year I’ve learnt to be kinder to myself, especially body wise.

Instead of thinking about what’s not great about my body, I’m starting to think about everything my body has allowed me to do.

I’ve also learnt that in order to be a better mum and wife, I need to take better care of myself, which means taking time to do things that matter to me, without feeling guilty.

Life lesson 4 – people will come in and out of your life

Time is precious, so we need to spend it with people who matter to us, who make us feel good about ourselves, and that are there for us during hard times.

I heard a saying a long time ago that has really stuck with me, it was friends are for a season, a reason, or a lifetime.

This means that there are some friends you have for a season, such as when you both have small kids, and both have a lot of time for catch ups.

There are some friends that are there for a reason, such as work colleagues that you only catch up with at work, and who you can complain to about work related things.

Then there are friends that you have for a lifetime, and are those friends who you would do anything for.

There isn’t enough time to spend with everyone you’ve ever met, and sometimes you have to change the amounts of time you spend with some people, to spend it with those who become more to you than they used to.

Life lesson 5 – stop putting things off, and start doing

One of the best life lessons I learnt last year was to stop putting things off, and start doing them.

This includes things like doctor visits, doing things that take a little bit of time, or doing things that you need other’s help with.

Sometimes I’m very quick to move things to the future if it’s something that I don’t think is that important, or that requires the help of others, but I need to get over this and start to do things instead of moving them around.

From now on if something is quick to do, or it just has to be done, I need to do it.

What are your favourite life lessons that you live by?
I’d love to hear about them in the comments section below.

Share to..