50 things I know
1. I know that the people I surround myself with and my environment significantly shape who I am.
2. I know life is too short to spend time on books that don't captivate me.
3. I know that whenever I feel bad or lost, taking a shower always helps; I know all the steps to complete that task.
4. I know that a goal without a plan is just a wish (as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said). Or, in Taylor Swift's words, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."
5. I know that asking for help is always a good idea.
6. I know that I should devote my time to what truly matters to me; though simple in theory, it's difficult to practice.
7. I know that the clothes we wear and the style we adopt play a big role in crafting our identities and aligning our exterior with our interior. Yet, we shouldn't overthink it.
8. I know that hosting others feels rewarding, even if it seems overwhelming at first.
9. I know that a well-crafted cold email can open doors; at eighteen, one led me to the offices of Teen Vogue magazine—talk about fulfilling a teenage dream.
10. I know that aesthetics are important to me in expressing my interests and values, yet I haven't given them the time and care they deserve.
11. As a society, we consume recently created content—mainly from the last 24 hours due to social media—overlooking timeless works by the greatest thinkers. This impacts the topics we discuss and care about. We should consume more old work.
12. In our hyper-connected world, we feel pressured to have opinions on every event or topic, leading to lazy thinking and poor ideas. We should become comfortable saying, "I don't know" or "I don't have enough information."
13. I know that the expression "just like riding a bike" doesn't actually apply to riding bikes.
14. Being kind to strangers is sometimes easier than being kind to those we love.
15. I know that success isn't a universal checklist to complete; it's unique and varies significantly from person to person.
16. I know that being vulnerable, though uncomfortable, can feel empowering afterward.
17. We often define ourselves by our occupations, adopting slogans like "The Queen of Talk Shows" (that’s Oprah). However, I wish we would describe ourselves by our core principles or beliefs rather than just our professional titles.
18. I know that introspection, which provides insights into my inner motivations and values, and reflection, which helps me evaluate my actions, experiences, and decisions, are key ingredients for living intentionally. To practice these, I enjoy journaling and doing monthly and annual reviews.
19. Most people underestimate frozen meals as quick, low-nutrition solutions when good-quality ones can be nutritious and great for maintaining a balanced diet. Let's end their bad reputation.
20. While some experiences feel extremely complex and unique to us, most of what we experience is universal.
21. We need less sharing and exposure and more secrecy and discretion.
22. I know that sharing our work is an act of love; it's like expressing our appreciation to the rest of humanity.
23. I wish decision-making were taught in school—mostly because I'm not good at it.
24. I know that by following your curiosity—no matter what it is—you become irreplaceable.
25. One of my biggest fears is living on autopilot and waking up one day thinking, "Oops! I didn't intend to get here." I want to live deliberately.
26. The most intriguing places are often not immediately perceived as remarkable. Explore what seems familiar.
27. I know that facts may not convince most people, but a good personal story often can.
28. Just because a method worked the first time doesn't mean it will work the second or third time. Sometimes, popular methods serve us once, and that's okay.
29. At the same time, we tend to undervalue old solutions because they seem familiar, yet they may be exactly what we need.
30. I know that sometimes, when feeling lost, what you truly want is buried deep inside, and you must sift through all your "shoulds" and set them aside to place desire at the center.
31. I aim to have loose opinions and strong values.
32. I know that a scented candle is always a great gift.
33. I know my natural tendency is to compare myself with everyone else, leading me to adopt strange lifestyle changes that last until I find someone else to compare myself with.
34. I know that compassion is different from empathy. With empathy, you share others' feelings; with compassion, you share their feelings and desire to alleviate their suffering. I try to aim for compassion.
35. I know that life is largely shaped by what you carry inside your own mind. Our thoughts are important; how we talk to ourselves matters.
36. I know I love—and can get lost in—a good magazine. They are time capsules of subcultures.
37. When we spend significant time with someone, we naturally begin to act a bit like them, and they become part of who we are.
38. I love metaphors because they bridge the gap between the known and the unknown, making abstract ideas more accessible. That's powerful. I want to get better at creating them.
39. My favorite notebook is the medium-sized, hard-covered, black Moleskine with ruled pages. When my cousin gifted me a perfectly good silver Lamy notebook, I kept it in a drawer for a while until I set aside my rigidity and decided to use it.
40. I know I am very structured, which has kept me from trying new things.
41. I know that during therapy, I reached a point where my confidence in handling issues independently decreased. It's a good thing that I realized.
42. Receiving feedback makes me feel insecure, yet I understand its importance for improvement. It's just difficult to deal with.
43. Setting personalized Focus modes on my phone that start automatically has been amazing; it's like having a different phone for every mode I'm in throughout the day.
44. I know that maintaining friendships requires intentional effort, care, and commitment. Friendships don't persist on their own—they need nurturing to grow and stay strong. I also know that social media makes this harder because it decreases our curiosity about our friends' lives.
45. I know that curiosity is the coolest skill; I'm trying to improve mine since it doesn't come naturally to me.
46. I know that I've felt much happier since deleting social media this June, mainly because I used to compare myself too much with everyone.
47. Sometimes, splurging on expensive items to support a good habit makes me more committed.
48. Though it may be uncomfortable at the time, I love going to the dentist; afterward, I feel like the most responsible, on-top-of-it human.
49. The best gift I've ever received was a Kindle when I was around 14; I started reading a lot more, and my life changed for the better.
50. I know that working on improving my writing and sharing it online has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. It's pushed me to embrace the cringe, learn to connect different ideas, and so much more.
What do you know and take for granted?
This format was stolen from
, who stole it from , who stole it from . You can “steal” it, too!–Catalina
"Though it may be uncomfortable at the time, I love going to the dentist; afterward, I feel like the most responsible, on-top-of-it human." Made me laugh! I admire your honesty and openness.
Catalina, you've have just outlined a fantastic memoir, since every one of the learnings have a story behind them.