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Home » Musings » Getting older and a wee bit wiser: 21 things I’ve learned in the past year

Getting older and a wee bit wiser: 21 things I’ve learned in the past year

October 24, 2013 Paris B 120 Comments

time out macarons
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Hi everyone!

Last year at about this time, I had a bit of a melt down haha! Things have improved a little over the year as I’ve learned to do things “my way or no way”, which has been a bit of a coming of age for me. There’re still things I’d like to do better so I’m learning to be tougher too. But there was something I did last year that I felt was very good for me blog-wise, and that was taking a break.

So, by way of a gift from me to me on my day (guess you’ve worked out what the Celebrate October giveaways were really about), I’m taking the day and a little time off from blogging. But instead of having you come by today in anticipation of a post and have nothing to read, I’m going to share 21 things  I’ve learned about myself in the past year. 21 of course, because I’m forever 21! 😉

Here are the 21 things I’ve learned:-

life lessons
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  1. I can say “No” and mean it; and importantly, not regret it.
  2. I am not butter. I will not spread myself too thin.
  3. Short hair lets me get away with being sassy and cheeky so I guess this is a keeper 😀
  4. My skin takes amazingly well to European skincare brands and formulas. Amazingly well.
  5. I can’t multitask as well as I thought I could. Something has to give.
  6. When an opportunity comes, grab it by the horns. You never know when it will come again nor where it might take you.
  7. Step outside your comfort zone. The view and experience can be amazing and eye-opening.
  8. You don’t need hundreds of friends; you only need a few good ones that you know you can depend on for a good time.
  9. There are always people waiting to bring you down and trip you up, so keep your eyes open and watch out for potholes.
  10. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Or dinner. Or tea.
  11. There’s no need to please everyone so long as what you do pleases someone or the ones who matter. The most important person to please is yourself so do what makes you happy.
  12. Saving money towards a goal forces me to choose my little indulgences more wisely and appreciate them better.
  13. You know “The Secret”? It works!
  14. I can talk to a roomful of people on a subject of which I know little and later be told it was insightful.
  15. I hold up pretty well in an emergency but it could also be perceived as being too cold and detached.
  16. Family first. Always.
  17. I have no idea how to address a foreign ambassador! Your Excellency? My Lady? Hey you? Eeks!
  18. Eat, drink and be merry. Life is too short to waste calories on crappy food.
  19. Children are a notion beyond my ken. I love my nephew but I could never do half the things my sister does to bring him up; and I salute her for everything she does while maintaining her own independence and life.
  20. When you’re happy and positive, everything will fall into place naturally. Vice versa if you are negative and angry all the time.
  21. I am incredibly blessed in so many ways 🙂

And one more – Take a break once in a while from the regular mill. You will be rewarded with better mental clarity, appreciation and enthusiasm.

Did any of my personal life lessons resonate with you?

Be good, peeps. I’ll be back soon 🙂 If you want to catch up on your MWS reading, the navigation bar up top may help you discover some hidden gems. So, go on, have a mosey around the 2832 published posts on the blog. I’ll still be on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram so feel free to look me up and chat to me there if you like. Email will take me a while to reply 🙂

xoxo

Paris B

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About Paris B

Paris B is a 40-something beauty and skincare enthusiast with a practical and very critical view of beauty products and the world of beauty. Her mission on My Women Stuff is to deliver clear, honest reviews and facilitate discussions about beauty trends and life, tempered with a healthy dose of humour. Let the buyer's remorse be ours not yours! When not testing the newest skincare creams and lotions, or playing with makeup, find her testing her culinary skills in the kitchen at Chez PB. Read more about us here or leave a comment below or connect with us on social media at Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

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120 comments ... Read or JOIN THE DISCUSSION

  1. Sze Ling says

    October 24, 2013 at 8:44 am

    Happy days! Everyday! 😀
    And I like the butter analogy. Nice. And I agree.

    By the way, “forever 21?”. Cheesy…. 😛

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:39 pm

      Haha what’s life without a bit of cheeze to add flavour eh? <- even more cheesiness 😀

      Reply
  2. Cecilia Wong says

    October 24, 2013 at 8:45 am

    Happy Birthday, Paris!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:39 pm

      Thank you Cecilia 🙂

      Reply
  3. AnT says

    October 24, 2013 at 8:54 am

    BLESSED BIRTHDAY Paris B! 😀

    May you be youthful and happy always ^_^

    ~hugs and kisses~ LOL 😀

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:39 pm

      Thank you so much AnT and for the e-card too! Sweet of you to remember 😀

      Reply
  4. [email protected] Reflections says

    October 24, 2013 at 9:06 am

    Happy HAPPY B-Day my friend! And have an awesome break! xo

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:40 pm

      Thank you my friend – it was! I have almost forgotten how to blog haha! Can’t wait till you go on yours – it’s wonderful

      Reply
  5. xin says

    October 24, 2013 at 9:12 am

    have a blissful big day!
    i concur with #16 & #20.
    one thing i have learnt over the years is – patience. i feel like a saint sometimes. LOL!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:40 pm

      Ahahahaa thanks Xin and ya. Sometimes I just mentally go Ommmmm….. because what else can we do right?! 😛

      Reply
  6. fanny says

    October 24, 2013 at 9:20 am

    Happy Birthday Paris.

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:40 pm

      Thank you Fanny! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Tine says

    October 24, 2013 at 9:21 am

    Nail on the head, jedi master. Nail on the the head.
    Happy birthday love. xx

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:41 pm

      Thank you Tine <3 See you soon! 😀

      Reply
  8. Sammi says

    October 24, 2013 at 9:25 am

    No.11… I live by that motto everyday 😉 one must always love thyself before loving others!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:42 pm

      You are absolutely right, Sammi! It’s our sanity at stake!

      Reply
  9. giddy tigress says

    October 24, 2013 at 9:34 am

    Happy Birthday!! No. 11 is SO true… but what’s “The Secret”?

    Reply
    • Nicole's Mirror says

      October 29, 2013 at 10:15 am

      I think she is referring to a book 🙂 I think.
      http://thesecret.tv/thesecretbook/

      Reply
      • Paris B says

        November 3, 2013 at 5:12 pm

        That’s the one! Thanks for helping out 🙂

        Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:46 pm

      Thank you GT! 😀 “The Secret” is basically the law of attraction. That like attracts like, positive energy attracts positive energy etc. So if you want something, you have to work for it but also to visualize it to make it happen. It’s a bit abstract and there’s more about it here http://thesecret.tv/

      Reply
  10. Ting says

    October 24, 2013 at 9:47 am

    Hahahahaha!! So I was quite right about the reason for October giveaway then. 🙂

    Happy birthday to you, and may you have loads of happiness and good luck all year round. Sook sarn warn gerd ka. 😀

    Yep most of the 21 things resonate with me, except #19 for apparent reason. hahahaha

    You have a great day and I hope your birthday celebration is a blast! xxx

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:51 pm

      Hehe yep! Thank you for the wishes and yes, I had a lovely time off except I think work didn’t get the “time off” memo LOL!

      Reply
  11. Zf says

    October 24, 2013 at 9:49 am

    Happy Birthday, Paris! May all your dreams come true soon. Wishing you a cheerful and delightful birthday..

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:52 pm

      Thank you Zf! 😀

      Reply
  12. Kay says

    October 24, 2013 at 9:51 am

    Happy birthday Paris!!! Do have a great one and many happy returns. We are born in the same month. =) Mine is coming soon in 3 days. How birthdays always make us think and reflect about our life huh? Your 21 points are very well said indeed. Forever 21, haha, I always tell people I am Forever 18. Cheers.

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:53 pm

      Hi Kay, thank you and happy belated birthday to you! Yay for October babies 😉 I know, people always ask me why I pick 21. I say it’s the undisputed legal age for me to do anything and everything 😀

      Reply
  13. Chow Mei Ling says

    October 24, 2013 at 10:31 am

    Happy birthday to you…!!!
    It must make you feel so good to have all these wonderful birthday wishes coming your way through your blog. Keep on doing what you love, ok?

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:56 pm

      Thank you Mei Ling and yes, I’m incredibly touched to receive everyone’s well wishes 🙂

      Reply
  14. liyeun says

    October 24, 2013 at 10:58 am

    I wish you all the happiness around the world. May u remain 21(cough) and learn happy 21 things for next year too. Btw no 17 is ine I hv problems with too….hahaha

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:57 pm

      Thank you Liyeun and yes, I plan to remain 21 forever and ever haha! 😀 No. 17 is quite a hard one isn’t it? I think it’s Your Excellency, although in person it hardly trips off the tongue 😛

      Reply
  15. Xen says

    October 24, 2013 at 11:30 am

    Many happy returns of the day, Paris! From the sounds of it, you’ve discovered more ways to love yourself positively this year (:

    Sending love and well wishes your way!

    xxx

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:58 pm

      Thank you Xen! Looking on the positive side has most certainly helped me move forward more smoothly. Highly recommended 😉

      Reply
  16. Applegal says

    October 24, 2013 at 11:31 am

    Happy birthday!! Wow, I don’t even know whether I can come up with 21 things that I’ve learnt over the past year! What you’ve written are real gems, pearls of wisdom for everybody to learn from. You should do this every birthday! 😀

    Have a great birthday celebration and a good break!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:59 pm

      Thank you Applegal 😀 I don’t know if I can learn another 21 things this year, but we’ll see! Never say never eh? 😀

      Reply
  17. Applegal says

    October 24, 2013 at 11:32 am

    Btw, where did you get the macarons from? They look gorgeous!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:59 pm

      They were from Les Deux Garcon – a gift and they were yummy 🙂

      Reply
  18. JackieA says

    October 24, 2013 at 11:38 am

    Blessed birthday Paris…..a number of things on your list resonated with me!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 3:59 pm

      Thank you JackieA 🙂

      Reply
  19. lisa says

    October 24, 2013 at 12:00 pm

    Happy Birthday. May you be happy and healthy always.

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 4:00 pm

      Thank you Lisa – that is truly all one really needs 🙂

      Reply
  20. CarolT says

    October 24, 2013 at 12:08 pm

    Blessed Birthday Paris! May your journey ahead be like fine wine, getting better with age. 😀

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 3, 2013 at 4:00 pm

      Aww thank you Carol! And like fine wine, make you heady in the process 🙂

      Reply
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Welcome to My Women Stuff, a beauty blog based in Malaysia, written by veteran blogger, Paris B. What you can expect is honesty, critical views & a healthy dose of shared life lessons sprinkled amongst beauty product reviews. What you shouldn't expect is a page filled with unnecessary narcissistic photos. MWS is a blog for those who love to read, because we love to write! Read More about MWS and Paris B

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