Note To Tabby : 18
Dearest Tabby,
I was gonna post this as a reply to your ‘Couple More Hours’ post. But then realised, aiya no space (sorry ah, longwinded, and eh are you following me on Tumblr?).
Anywayyyy….in celebration of the big 1-8, I thought I’d give you some advice, since I’m like old and antiquated. Here’s what I wish people woulda told me when I was 18…
1. Invest - if you can convince an adult to do this with you, put your money in property - buy a house! By the time you’re 28, and you sell the place, you’ll have a shitload of cash after you pay your partner off with interest. Trust me. Property prices only go up.
2. Insurance - if you haven’t insured yourself, start now. Premiums only get higher the older you get.
3. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself.
4. Pursue things in life that you really want. Don’t do it just cos its the ‘right’ thing to do, or what is ‘expected’ of you. You don’t wanna be 10, 20 years down the road realising you got a degree you’re not interested in to get into the job you don’t like just to buy a house you couldn’t really afford or had kids with a guy you didn’t really love. Follow your heart.
5. Believe in yourself, never be ashamed of your opinions no matter how stupid they may sound in your head. Its okay to say them, have the whole room laugh together with you. Its when you make mistakes and acknowledge them with grace that you grow.
6. Apart from being a marathon, life is also a journey. Take time to smell the roses and soak up the sights and be thankful for that beautiful sunset or sunrise, the puffy clouds or a puppy’s bark. Be open to life, LIVE IT (don’t get caught in the mundane ‘from-bed-to-work-to-bed’ rut).
7. Last but not least, take time to acknowledge the ones you love, and never go to bed angry.
It is a privilege to have gotten to know you the last coupla months, I think you are seriously gonna be a force to be reckoned with in years to come no matter what you choose to pursue. :)
love much, trace.
