When someone says that life is easy and that you are way too complex. Don’t worry, be happy. If you think life is easy, have a child, go through pain, divorce, death, depression, homelessness, hardship, confrontation, abuse, illness, suicide of a loved one and you’ll soon know that life is far from easy. 

Life can be easy but it is not. It is a road paved with challenges, beautiful distractions, life changing moments, difficult people and situations that challenge us and help us grow. If you’re an adult and your life is far too easy, you’re living in Neverland. Life is the sum of all your choices, don’t forget that but we must all make good decisions. Some reminders for us this weekend:

1. Nobody knows what will happen in the future. Only God does. We can try and create the future by careful planning, working hard, saving but no one can guarantee how it will actually happen. Having a vision and working towards it is better than wishing.

2. Doing is better than thinking. This year, don’t wait for perfection before you do something. Progress over perfection. Small steps.

3. Education is not the only key to success. It surely speeds things up and knowing how to apply education is the key to successful living. Sharing knowledge is even better. It’s not a competition, some people genuinely want to learn from you and vice versa with no ill intentions of weaponising that knowledge against you.

4. The most difficult mission on earth is to focus on your dreams; the easier task is to complain. So, remember complaining doesn’t move things. We won’t remain young and optimistic forever, so, take the risk and begin working on your dreams today.

5. Trust yourself before you ask others to trust you. Healthy expectations are useful but you can only manage yourself at the end of the day. Worrying about what others think and how you should live your life is wasting good energy.

6. Never take life for granted, some people are wishing they are living your life.

7. Acceptance and approval are different. You can be respectful of everyone but that doesn’t mean you approve of their choices or become part of the equation.

8. Be faithful in everything. Didn’t you pray for this job? This marriage? This child? You are where you are for a reason. 

Study, do the coursework, take the tests, be faithful in your job, be responsible for your child, work on your marriage, spend the hours improving the systems of whatever that is required of you. Work beyond the requirements because that is who you are. Be faithful and truthful in your relationships. There are certain qualities that you are being trained at in this current position that will prepare you for the next one. No experience is ever wasted. Make the most of it.

9. Become a lifelong learner. Be willing to learn in everything and you will continue to grow.

10. Love others: The natural tendency of life is not to love. Love fights against the natural desires of life for selfish, self serving, ways of life.

“For what it’s worth. It’s never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you find you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start over again.” F. Scott Fitzgerald

While we enjoy another peaceful Sunday Samoa, remember that we are only on Earth for a short time. We are not meant to live forever.