FunctionalReads

On an ordinary day in 2002, I met a young girl playing carefree on the streets. Sometimes, the most important people arrive in our lives in the most mundane way.  Looking back now, I realize that random day wasn’t random at all. I’m grateful it happened, and I’m even more grateful it stayed.

Here are 20 quiet, beautiful things I’ve learned from her over the past 20 years.

1. Feel deeply but don’t react deeply.

Because not everyone or everything needs a reaction, some things just need space.

2. Never speak ill of anyone, even if they hurt you.

Because silence is not weakness, it’s dignity.

3. When it comes to friendships, it’s about quality and not quantity.

Because you don’t need a crowd, just the ones who stand beside you need to be true. 

4. Self-care is key.

Be it a long walk, a day in bed, or simply saying No – it’s not selfishness, it’s self-love. 

5. Stay calm even when it’s overwhelming.

Because chaos doesn’t have to live inside you just because it’s around you.

6. Thoughtful gifts are better than expensive gifts.

Because love and care live in the details.

7. Spend hard, save harder.

Enjoy the present without spoiling tomorrow. It’s a beautiful balance.

8. Make the most of what you have.

Be it a tight budget or a lavish holiday, enjoy it the same. Resourcefulness is truly a form of gratitude.

9. Enjoy the little things as if there’s no tomorrow.

A good coffee. A sunset. The clouds. Notice them all.

10. Don’t let other’s opinions get to you.

Because being a good person and proving it to others are two very different things.

11. Give people chances, but walk away when it’s time.

Because forgiveness and boundaries need to co-exist.

12. Soft-spoken people are stronger than you think.

Wise people don’t have to be loud. Strength comes in many forms.

13. Be there for your inner circle always.

Because at the end of the day, it’s you and them against the world.

14. Go with the flow.

 Because this mindset will save you more time than you can imagine.

15. Choose wisely who you spend your time with.

 Give your energy where it is valued, not where it is drained.

16. Being there is important, even if you can’t solve anything.

Because presence matters more than any advice.

17. Choose relationships over ego.

Because life is hard enough already, and relationships don’t have to be hard.

18. Treat your best friends like family.

Because blood alone doesn’t make you family.

19. Be best friends with your family.

Because family is built on trust, laughter, late-night talks, and mutual respect. 

20. Don’t rush— a calm nervous system is a gift to yourself.

Because peace is productivity too.

Good people teach more than any textbook or course ever could.  The lessons aren’t loud or dramatic. They come in slow conversations, silly laughs, hard tears, long walks, shared silence, and quiet gestures, which might not be perfect but always real. If you have a friend like this, celebrate them. And if you are this friend to someone, celebrate yourself.