On this the day of my birth I reflect on the twenty things I’ve learned. To be fair I learned most of these very young or far too late, but regardless they are lessons learned.

First Family is always family. You don’t chose these people but you do get to choose how you interact with them.

There are people who are more than family. How I met them doesn’t matter. What does is the fact that I would do anything for them for the pure reason that they mean that much to me.

Everyone needs faith, Granted we all don’t believe in the same thing, and that’s ok, but we all need to believe in something.  This life has zero purpose if you don’t have something to believe in.

You can’t chose who you love. I don’t want to go into details with this one but what it comes down to is you are fully responsible for what you do with that love,

Never get in between a relationship. It’s not my place and I don’t like being there.

No one deserves forgiveness. Forgiveness is a gift which must be given freely.

It’s easier to be feared then loved, but love is more satisfying.

People will hate me. Some of it I deserve a lot of it no so much. Nothing I can do about it.

If no one hates you it means you never really stood for anything.

Never pick a fight you don’t intended to finish, but if you do finish it leave it alone, Grudge matches never solve anything.

Grudges are a waste of time and energy. It won’t make you feel better and it won’t make the other person feel worse.

Time is one of the few things we control that we have no real control over, so spend it/ pass it/ live it on the people and things you love.

Someone loves you even if it’s not you.

Money is a means to an end not an end. If money for money’s sake become your goal you will wake up very sad one day.

I should do things that I love. Even if they don’t make me money, that’s the point of my day job. People who can do both are truly blessed, but I don’t want my love to become a necessity.

No one controls my actions but me. I will pay for my sins, but I will also celebrate my victories.

No one on this planet is perfect. But find that person that makes you want to be better then you are.

All magic comes at a price. To gain something, something of value must be lost. To live ignoring the consequences is foolishness.

There are fundamental laws that never change. I am finding out what those are for me and making sure I never forget them.

Lastly I’m just a minor character in a story that has been going on far longer than I’ve been alive, but that doesn’t mean I’m not important to the stories around me. I could be that unwavering friend, the annoying rival, the wise one who hands out good advice, or the villain who makes the hero realize something.

At the end of the day I AM HUMAN. I will make mistakes, fail and fall, but I will pick myself up and keep going. I’m far from perfect and I wouldn’t have it any other way.