What My Job Has Taught Me About Life in General

Disclaimer: This is not going to be “The Twenty-Something’s Guide to  Surviving Life and the Corporate World” self-help kind of article. This is more of a “Take Life with All Its Beauty, Madness, and Sadness” pseudo-existentialist, bordering on pretentious realization-type of composition. (I have to stop myself now before it gets too icky.)

Nevertheless, it is my sincerest hope for you to find this even remotely helpful. Let’s begin.

1. Failure is inevitable.

As I’ve said before, accept that you’re human, but don’t make it an excuse for every time you screw up. Nevertheless, when you fail, don’t  punish yourself for it. Don’t let your mistakes define you. Just  simply do better.

2. There is no perfect job.

You’ve heard this a million times over, but there is value in repetition after all. It won’t be all good all the time, which is why it’s important that you love  your job. It’s the only thing that will make you stay. Well, other  than money, of course; assuming you’re paid well.

3. More often than not, character is preferable to skill.

Imagine you hired a photographer to do a product shoot for you and all of a sudden, just because he hates the lighting, he throws a fit and throws the Canon 7D to the ground with a sound painful not only to the  ears, but to everyone’s pockets. Okay, that was too much, but you get  my point.

Divas.

4. It’s okay not to be okay

Because you’re not a robot or a machine in anyone’s factory. Our brains and our physical bodies can only take so much. Give yourself a  break sometimes. A small addition to your closet won’t hurt, or saying  a little prayer for the ones you love, or driving while singing to the songs that tell your story.

Breathe.

5. In pursuit of greatness, we often forget goodness.

I watched “Oz the Great and Powerful” recently not expecting to be  really entertained. I wasn’t. Instead, I learned something valuable,  which is actually more important. We just get so lost in our ambition  and in ourselves sometimes that we don’t realize that we’re hurting  the people around us.

6. We often forget the simple joys of life.

The ones that make us smile despite the bad day we’re having – like  Magnum, bulgogi, or pancit canton. (Yes, I realize they’re all food.  Sue me.) More importantly though, we often forget that the people who  make us happy are still around. Never take these individuals for granted, because, as the Counting Crows sang, “You don’t know what you  got ’til it’s gone.”

7. Anger doesn’t solve anything.

It will just make things worse. So swallow your pride. Apologize.  Forgive. It’s the quickest way to lose extra weight, seriously.

8. Always look forward.

Never look back unless it makes you hopeful. If it just depresses you,  forget about it. Easier said than done, I know. But, isn’t everything?  I don’t want to say, “Let go.” Seriously. We’re hoarders by nature. We  can’t just let go of the things that mean or have meant something to  us. We just can’t!

Having said that, let go, dude. (Repeat this as a chant until you stop being a liar.)

9. Hurting people with words is worse than stoning them to death.

Men have risen and fallen because of words. The most painful ones,  those that come from the people you truly care for, cut deep into your  marrow.

And time won’t be enough to heal those wounds.

10. There’s no substitute for hard work.

You can’t just stare at a can of paint and will it to start painting  the wall just because you know everything about it by heart. You have to pick up the brush with your bare hands and paint. Duh.

11. In the real world, there is actually a place for posers.

Good for them. The value of that “place” is close to nothing anyway.

12. Once you lose heart, you lose everything.

So, always go back to what makes you happy. Return to your love.

13. It’s possible to miss yourself.

Hence, this piece of my mind, or rather, heart.

About the author: Micah is currently having a blast as the Marketing &  Admissions Officer for UV New School of Art & Design (UVNS), her  second home. Her job is the sunshine of her life, but writing is the moonlight that illuminates the darkness that follows and lingers  thereafter.