the year that was.

on life.

it does not wait for you to grow up.

you have to grow up on your own,

and realize

that life does not change for you.

and that

the change in perspective

has to come from you.

because if you constantly wait

for something to happen,

you will get frustrated.

but if you set your heart on life goals,

you will be spurred on

by your little victories.

on love.

there is a considerable difference

between falling in love

and settling.

never be pressured

to be in a relationship.

just wait for love to come,

do not force

nor feign it.

pretending will only

break other people's hearts,

and make you an asshole.

but do listen

when your heart speaks to you

for it oftentimes speaks softly.

on family.

as much as possible,

be on good terms

with your family.

you will find that when

familial relationships are impaired,

there will always be

something intangible

that gnaws at your very core.

it's hard to be genuinely happy

when there are several loose strings

that need some fixing.

your family

will always be your lifesavers.

no matter what.

and under all circumstances.

on friends.

you don't have to please everyone.

and it is okay for some friendships

to wither,

especially if you do not feel good

about yourself

when you are with them.

never change who you are

just to please others

and make them like you.

always trust your instincts

when it comes to choosing

your friends.

keep old ones,

but be careful in making new ones.

on work.

sooner or later

you will realize

that being mainstream

requires you to think less

so you can earn more.

but never allow yourself

to be sucked alive

by a job that you do not see yourself

doing for a long time.

revisit your little boy's yearnings:

what did you want to become?

a change in career path

is always possible.

you just have to be steadfast

and unwavering

in satiating what your heart

truly desires.

never settle for anything less.

chase your life dream.

even if it takes all your energy.

because in the end,

it will all be worth it.

on beer.

never let it control you.

if it reaches a point where your life

has been unduly disrupted,

and your social circles have been impaired,

drop the bottle.

because it can be destructive,

especially if your self-control

only exists in theory.

on reputation.

always keep your self-image

in check.

for the damage,

once it is inflicted,

is oftentimes irreversible.

do not be the person

that people will look at

and say:

what has happened to him?

he used to be good,

but now,

he is disappointment personified.

your self-image will always be

what sustains you.

never compromise your integrity.

on yourself.

always remember

to love yourself more.