It really doesn’t feel like forty years have passed… And I cannot but be grateful for the fun, the learnings, and the growth.

It’s really a celebration I chose to call “Forty Shades of Life”. And as I was reflecting on this milestone, I drafted a list of my top 40 learnings which I’m sharing with you below. I hope you enjoy and relate to them as much as I did! Drop your comments under the post with your favorite personal learnings or which of mine resonated with you the most.

1- I can’t change people around me but I can change the people around me. 

2- Princess fairytales don’t exist, and yes it took me 35 years to believe that. 

3- I don’t need to be or do one thing only, I can wear multiple hats and still consider each one an achievement. 

4- I don’t give a damn about what people think. The more I care about what people think, the more space I give them to judge who and how I am. 

5- The real deal with beauty and skin comes from food, sleep, breathing, workout, and inner satisfaction.  

6- My short hair is the best gift I gave myself. 

7- Showing vulnerabilities is extremely liberating and empowering. 

8- Social media can be so toxic if consumed over long hours and in large quantities and/or without awareness.  

9- The only way out of pain is through it. 

10- Creativity can also be the product of painful (or even traumatic) experiences.

11-  It’s better to create memories and invest in oneself spiritually and mentally, than to collect things.

12- A smile does actually go a long way.

13- Energy flows in circles, so whatever I give, I receive in return.

14- The mind can be a best friend but also the worst enemy. Remaining aware is key!

15- Silence sometimes speaks louder than any words said.

16- I am the most creative when in the shower. 

17- I never trust someone who speaks badly of a friend in front of me. They probably do the same with others.

18- Being taken advantage of is the easiest to happen and the hardest to detect.

19- I am a child of the sun. And seasonal depression is real. 

20- Honking at a mad driver does not make them a better one.

21- Giving has limits. These limits are my needs and the boundaries I set for myself. 

22- Carbs are my mental heaven and my bodily hell at the same time.

21-  Not everyone who is aging is actually growing on the inside.

22- I was able to move forward steadier after forgiving my younger self.

23- Scales and mirrors are my worst enemies.

24- Music is my life and Dj-ing should have been what I did for a living. 

25- A few good and loyal friends are worth much more than a large group of acquaintances. 

26- 40 does feel like 30, but sometimes my joints disagree.

27- My parents did the best they knew raising me. They deserve gratitude, not blame. 

28- My inner peace is not dependent on the situation, but on how I react to it. 

29- French fries are life (now number 22 makes more sense) 

30- Sleeping early on weekdays does not mean I’m growing older, it means I’m growing wiser.

31- I need to listen to my body as it always tells me things and gives me signs.

32- Being afraid is okay, it means growth is about to happen. What isn’t okay is to let that fear overpower a decision or a change. 

33- There is so much cruelty in the world that makes me doubt people’s understanding of the word “humanity”.

34- I trust my gut feeling.  

35- I am least interested today in the same priorities I had when I was much younger. 

36- When things don’t go my way, it is because the universe has a different plan for me, maybe even a better one.

37- My child does not need to be perfect or a “know it all”. He needs to be allowed to be, to grow his way, make his own share of mistakes, and learn along the way. 

38- Small daily victories, when done consistently, give me extraordinary results in the long run. 

39- Times of rest, silence, and doing nothing are absolutely necessary. Not every hour of every day needs to be used productively or efficiently. 

40- Positive, respectful, and open communication can save any relationship if both sides commit to it.