For two reasons, I have decided not to write about the ice storm this week.

The first being that it’s probably all you’ve heard about this past week. And second being that today is my birthday, and I’ve decided to create a tradition.

Last year, for my 23rd birthday, I wrote a column about 23 lessons I’ve learned in the past 23 years.

This year, I’ve decided to make a different list of 24 concepts I will try to live by in my 24th year.

Whether it’s about personal growth, caring for others, reducing stress, simply enjoying life, or something else, there are plenty of things that I’d like to work toward, and maybe this can influence others to do the same.

1. Treat others the way you want to be treated.

The golden rule. It’s something I mention a lot in my column because I feel like some people need to be reminded of it.

2. Focus on what you can control.

There are so many things that are out of our control, and yet we often let those things control us. By focusing on what we can control, we can reduce the stress of being out of control of other things.

3. Take the time to teach and explain your reasoning.

Sometimes, arguments arise due to miscommunication and misunderstanding. Taking time to teach one another and explaining your reasoning is a good way to see other sides to every story and finding a mutual understanding and peace. And, be a good listener when others are teaching/explaining.

4. Get out of your comfort zone.

How will we ever know what else might fit into our comfort zones if we don’t explore outside of them? Life’s too short to stay put and stay comfortable.

5. Focus on doing the thing, not the outcome.

Commit to the process, not the outcome, for it might be out of your control. And, sometimes, the process can be more rewarding than the product.

6. Use your manners.

A “please” and “thank you” can go a long way for you and others. Along those lines, compliment people. It just might be the thing that brightens someone’s darkest day.

7. Admit when you’re wrong.

8. Trust the process.

Everything happens for a reason. Trusting that and the process it takes to get there can bring a sense of calm to life.

9. Don’t worry about what others think of you.

Be who you are, and if you want to change, do that for you, not to fit the notion of you that people have in their heads. With that, learn not to compare yourself to others. How you are perceived should only ever matter to you.

10. Be present and don’t wait for later.

It’s easy to get swept away in the things to come or reminisce on the past, but I’d hate to miss out on the present by being out of touch with it. This moment, right now, will soon be gone, and it will never return. You only get one now — take advantage of it.

11. Be selective of the people you surround yourself with.

12. Learn to forgive, not for them but for you and your inner peace.

13. Always stay a student.

I love learning new things, I hope that my drive to continue to be a student lives on. I hope that my curiosity never fades — at least I will try not to let it do so.

14. Stay connected with others.

Take and make those phone calls. Stay in touch with friends and family — it’s worth it, and you never know when it could be the last.

15. Appreciate the beauty around you.

Whether that’s nature, people, moments, etc., there is so much beauty in this world, and it’d be a shame to see it go to waste. That being said, find the beauty in everything because, more likely than not, it’s there, even if it’s hard to see. You might find more happiness in doing so.

16. Make time to travel.

Go see the beauty throughout the world.

17. Take deep breaths.

18. Invest in experiences, not things.

19. It’s OK to not be OK.

Sometimes we need those down days to remember and appreciate the good ones. Emotions can be a powerful thing, and embracing them — whether they’re good or bad — might be just the thing we need in that moment.

20. It’s OK to not have everything figured out.

Being so young, I know I have a lot of life ahead of me. To avoid being overwhelmed by the future, this is something I need to remember. Everything will work out the way it needs to, and I don’t have to have the solution for everything in advance.

21. Show that you care.

Don’t simply tell people that you care — show them. Maybe that’s with an out-of-the-blue handwritten card, or maybe that’s buying someone lunch. Maybe it’s as simple as giving someone a hug. Showing that you care, and how much you care, goes a lot further than just saying it.

22. Your story can be rewritten.

There’s always room for change, so long as the world keeps spinning. Remember that you write your own story and you’re always free to take a new direction in that story.

23. Try and try again.

24. Health and happiness matter most.

This has been my go-to for years now. It’s what I’ve had tattooed on my arm since my 18th birthday. Take care of yourself and note that your health and happiness are so important and should take priority in your life.

There are plenty of other positive sayings and concepts to live by that I probably left off the list, but in all, this is a column to say be nice to one another and yourself. It’s something that I plan to continue to do or try to do better at, and I hope you might consider doing the same.

We’re all doing the best we can, especially right now as most of northern Michigan is recuperating after the ice storm.

Appreciate yourself, your neighbors, time, life, beauty, art, and every other wonderful thing in this world. We could all use the positivity. I’ll work on doing my part this year and every year, and I hope you will too.

Torianna Marasco can be reached at 989-358-5686 or tmarasco@TheAlpenaNews.com.