25 Mistakes To Make Before You Turn 25!

Having turned 25 today, we can assure you that this list has truly been lived by us. As they say…been here, done that. So here go the 25 mistakes along with an 'x-factor', in no particular order of importance:

1. Make the mistake of thinking some things are forever. Yes, it will definitely lead to heartbreaks and you being careless and foolhardy at times. But it will also make you wiser and your memories sweeter. Because sometimes, naivety pays!

2. Fall in love with a friend, a stranger, ‘the one’, or even the obviously wrong person. Because when you love someone you get to know a lot about who you are when in love.

3. Lose important stuff. It hurts like a b*tch but it makes you more responsible while helping you learn that you can still carry on!

4. Get angry and stay angry for however long you need. Anger is that part of you that knows you haven’t been treated the way you need to be.

5. Do the unexpected. It’ll be uncomfortable but will also help your idea of ‘you’ take a more solid shape. And who knows, in the process the current you might evolve into a better you!

6. Make enemies.

7. Find an obsession and obsess over it completely. When it doesn’t give you the same energy and happiness in return, your heart will break. But then it’ll mend and you will never be able to obsess over anything the same way again.

8. Be the reason why someone cries. Do better next time.

9. Have regrets. Lots of them. Both things you did and didn’t do.

10. Be vulnerable with someone you don’t trust; it’ll help you end things sooner.

11. Invite the wrong people into your life. Friends, lovers, acquaintances. Then do kick them out!

12. Embarrass yourself in public in a major way. It’ll make you cringe at odd moments for years to come!

13. Get a plant that you are not ready to take care of and watch as it dies. Basically, yes, kill a plant, so you know next time not to overestimate your capabilities.

14. Put others first all the time. Trust us, it stinks and is a mistake to make! Going forward it’ll make your selfishness a little less guilt-provoking.

15. Let your loved ones down for people who let you down. We assure you this way you will never repeat the mistake.

16. Think in binaries. It’ll restrict your worldview, make you close-minded, and will turn you into a grumpy, inconsiderate person. Do snap out of it though. Radical, unempathetic thoughts rarely lead to constructive efforts.

17. Try the thing you know you’ll hate. That way you can be the first to say to yourself, "I told you so".

18. Let your negative feelings simmer for a while. Living with pain and guilt and sadness and regret and suffering is needed.

19. Take a first, second, and third chance on someone. It most probably won’t work out.

20. Be someone else for a day. You will hate it and get exhausted by the end but you will also experience things that you otherwise never would!

21. Take on more work than you can handle. It will show you your breaking point and the eventual breakdown will never let you forget where to draw the line.

22. Shout, berate, and throw abuses at the person you hate, preferably in public. The guilt will keep you from crossing paths again.

23. Conform. Obey. Live your life by someone else’s rules. But only for a very very very very short time. It’ll make you more empathetic and give you the will to take control.

24. Here’s the bonus 'x-factor' for the sceptics: Embrace 25. It’ll only get harder but the pain will only be sweeter. And the joy of sharing the horrors with other members of the club will be unparalleled.

25. Fail. Create something abysmal and put it up for display.

26. Forget a loved one’s birthday or miss an important event in their life. That way you gift them a free pass to do the same (and doesn’t everybody need that once in a lifetime?).

P.S. If you haven't already covered all these bases, know that it's never too late to make mistakes. And remember, mistakes are the living proof to the pudding that is your life!