- Don’t pick on your pimples. The scar they leave will be more permanent than the damage you suffered from all the times you were called ‘pondan’ in school.
- Don’t use retinol every day. Four times a week is sufficient.
- Make more acquaintances. Friends are great, but nothing beats the comfort and reliability of weak ties.
- Don’t limit your potential. Spend every day asking: “What’s next?”. Complacency is when you get too comfortable with the status quo.
- Don’t be happy with the status quo.
- Be less obsessed about being thin. You were once thin, and that got you absolutely nothing — except being hungry a lot.
- Never underestimate the power of good sleep and a good pillow.
- Intention is good when starting a business, pertinent even. But the intention is nothing without a good plan.
- Celebrate your small victories in whatever way you want — big or small. But remember to celebrate them.
- Celebrate others too.
- Set aside time to do nothing. Creativity thrives in an environment of emptiness.
- But don’t let society pressure you into doing nothing. The world doesn’t know what you’re going through — walk your own path.
- Don’t be afraid to spend the money you’ve earned. You deserve nice things too.
- Guard your freedoms fiercely.
- Don’t feel bad for being self-serving with the things you do, the jobs you take, and the favours you give. You must advocate for yourself.
- Every relationship, friendship, and partnership is transactional — and that’s okay. Even altruism is transactional to a degree.
- Use sunscreen all the time. Yes, even when you’re buying Masala Thosai from the Indian-Muslim stall downstairs.
- Don’t restrain sadness. Let yourself fully feel the extent of your despair from the tips of your hair to the ends of your toes. Sit with it. And then heal.
- Let yourself truly feel unbridled happiness. You don’t have to dress rehearse grief, worry or pain.
- Be a mentor.
- Getting angry is natural, but letting that anger consume you is unnecessary energy spent on an emotion that will change absolutely nothing.
- Not every criticism is a personal attack, but when it is, have the courage to defend your stand.
- You don’t have to be right all the time. There’s more wisdom to be learned from being wrong sometimes.
- You will never be too old, too slow, or too inexperienced to learn a new skill.
- Have a hobby that won’t make you money.
- Know your monetary worth.
- 50% of the requirements in a job ad are a suggestion, not a compulsion.
- Relax. Nothing is so urgent that it cannot wait.
- You don’t have to like every book you read. You can give up on a book ten pages in.
- It’s okay to drink espresso with milk. Or tea with a touch of sugar. Purists will always try to shame you for what you love — don’t let them.
- Have a strategy for life and living. Make plans. Pause. And then make some more.
- But remember to allow yourself to be delightfully surprised at the smaller, unexpected joys of life.
- Network. Speak to people.
- Be more vulnerable than people expect. Vulnerability is not weakness — it’s the centre of meaningfulness.
- Run. Or do spin. Or body jam. Dance. Do anything that requires you to move. Stasis is the lover of jadedness.
- You don’t need that many shoes.
- People don’t buy things. People buy stories, affiliations, connections, and familiarity.
- You will outgrow some friends. Friendships are not forever, and that’s okay.
- Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise.
- Let people like things. Let people like trains. Let people read trashy magazines. Let people love whatever they love. They don’t need your approval, but they definitely don’t need your judgement.
Founder at Crazycat | TEDx Speaker | Emcee | Panel Moderator | PR & Communications Specialist | Storyteller | Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Advocate
5 个月HOW DID I MISS THIS?!?!! Happy BIG 40 Zat Astha and thank you so much for this labour of love, joy and pain, thank you for sharing your lessons learned. What a gift! YOU are a gift! Also, I agree with retinol 4 times a week, really trying to work on happiness and not dress rehearse grief and completely with you on vulnerability as a strength :)
Fintech | Web 3.0 | Stablecoins | Start Up-Scale Up | Ex-Banker | Thought Leader
5 个月Happy birthday champ Zat! ?? Welcome to the club. by the way, fun Fact: Birthdays are Good for you. Statistics have consistently proven that the more you have, the longer you Live.
Zat Astha Happy Birthday! This is too real. Thank you for sharing... A lot of us feel the same, the only difference is - you've called it out so accurately. Enjoy your 40th and have the best year ahead! Best, Rahal Kansara
Co-Founder at TriOn & Co | Award-Winning Strategic Communications Leader | PRCA APAC E,D&I Chair | #breakthecyclebethechange #TriOnandCo
5 个月#36 - why are you attacking me Zat Astha ?? Happy 40th!
Founder at RóA | Award Winning Luxury Pattiserie | Delighting 99% of Humanity, One Scrumptious Treat at a Time.
5 个月No wonder they say 40s are the start of the most liberating years! Happy 40th! Loving number 10 btw - a true mark of maturity and inner confidence ??