Lessons learned

I will start off with a Jiu-Jitsu quote: 'There is no such thing as losing. When we lose, we are learning.'

We all make mistakes. Sometimes we learn. Sometimes these mistakes become habits (the word habit derived from something that you "wear" a lot of the time.

Even with the best teacher, we are autonomous beings and prefer to figure things out for ourselves - or is that just me?

Strangely enough, when I have been humble and just taken instruction this has reaped huge rewards. After all, if there was no trust, learning and the application of learning, the world would be in an extremely shittier state. 

In fact, I find people who are very skeptical and self-sufficient tedious. 

I have learned the most from my first science teacher. My physics teacher. Marian Keyes (an author), J.K. Rowling. My taekwondo instructor. My striking instructor. My jiu-jitsu instructors. My Maori teacher. Maori in general. My scheduling and planning mentors. (Some) of my managers.  The politicians I have been lucky enough to work for. My Mum. My brother. My sister. 

These lessons are endless, Michaelangelo famously said 'I am always learning.'

I was an absolute teacher's pet and rarely had a teacher I didn't like. I am notorious for sucking up to people, but I don't mean to be.

Sometimes this person has been me. There is nothing more fulfilling than establishing a  lasting change in a person or organisation for the better. I suppose that's why I love project management. 

Sometimes we learn the most from the managers who have fired us. The ex-boyfriends. The frenemies. Political allies who betray. The swindlers. The bullies. The micro-managers. The scammers (lol). 

It fucking sucks at the time, but there almost always comes a point where I look back and say 'thanks for lesson, Universe.' Not always. But there are good odds for a good lesson. 

I knew moving to London meant expecting the unexpected, but there is nothing quite like real life. 

I'm writing this because it's a slow news week and I have a new job which takes up 40 hours in my week. I could write about my job, but that would be unprofessional, and honey I barely hold the "professionalism" together as it is. I have already recycled a post this week and I already wrote about the weather. I'm grasping at biodegradable straws here.

I'm writing this because I move AirBnBs tomorrow and I am procrastinating packing. 

I'm writing this because I have a very strong feeling about clouds in my near future, and this is my way of preparing for the worst. 

So I'm writing about lessons learned. 

This is actually a PRINCE2 term (PRojects In Controlled Environments, 2nd edition bought to you by the UK Government, lol).

What I have learned is the following:

Your Mother is always right. Just last night she predicted how my evening would go, and this AMAZING woman is on the other side of the planet!

Even if you progress things, strategic thinkers understand that sometimes, moving forward means moving back. And they will push you back.

Just because you have empathy, doesn't mean that everyone else does, and people will throw you under the bus. 

NEVER USE ACRONYMS unless they are part of the urban dictionary. 

If you are drinking, a sober person will always be able to tell.

Even if you think you're not prosperous, or are struggling with money, give something away. Anything. Skip traditional logic. If you give something away, boom. You have it. And there's more where that comes from.

Confidence is everything. 

Courage is everything (Gryffindor through-and-through).

Go! Make a splash. Be controversial. We might only have this one life. 

It is people, it is people, it is people. 

Always listen to your intuition. You will know when it is trying to tell / teach you something. 

Never under estimate yourself. But stay humble (humble simply meaning the absence of pride). Sounds like a contradiction, but life is full of dichotomies.

Be yourself. Sure, what else could you be? Authenticity is hot. And if you're not, then be open to change. Every 90 days the human body replaces every single cell. And our minds are the control centre. 

Change is good. You only stop changing when uou die. Do you want to change for the better or for the worse?

You are skinnier than you think you are. Pffffft. Shhhh. I won't hear it! Trust me. 

Don't procrastinate. But if not now, then when?

Purpose statements and to-do lists. Do 'em.

Speaking of, I really need to pack and join my lovely friend for dinner. 

Thank you for reading.

And if you have anything at all to teach me, I'm all ears.