So I just turned 23 years old - what life lessons have I learned?

My 23rd birthday marked the start of a new beginning for me. It's the start of a new me as I change the way I see the world and take life for what it is.. I'm still very young and I know that I still have a lot to learn in life but I am mature enough to make my own decisions in my life for myself to move forward in this world.. For me right now, life is about 'balance', it's about knowing when to be spontaneous and have fun at the right times and it's also about moving forward and being the creator of my own destiny.

So how did I celebrate my 23rd birthday? I celebrated my 23rd birthday with a big bang!! I spent my actual birthday (August 20) with my family in the Western Sydney suburbs. My mum made me my favourite dish - Salt & Pepper Squid, I had a Strawberry Gateau birthday cake and my family sang 'Happy Birthday!' to me as I blew out my birthday candles. I felt so special and so loved from my family. Sometimes love is all you need.

Me and my Strawberry Gateau birthday cake!

My beautiful family from left to right - Sang, Lisa (Sang's gf), Phuong, LJ, Miguel, Me, Thanh and Mum.

The next day, Saturday 21st August, I celebrated my birthday with my best friends - 13 girls and 2 guys. I booked out a karaoke room at Mizuya Karaoke on George Street. After a few birthday drinks and a few shots later, I was singing and dancing on the tables! All of my friends were getting into it - singing Madonna's 'Like a Virgin, Jay Z's 'Empire State of Mind' and Rhianna's 'Rude Boy'! It was crazy, wild and fun! Before our time was up at the Karaoke Bar, my housemate Sophie, one of my best friends, took the microphone and had a little speech prepared for me. She said, in front of everyone, that I meant a lot to her and that she was grateful to have me in her life! Then the microphone was passed around the room and each one of my best friends said that I had helped them through so much in life and that they wish that I achieve everything in life that I set out to achieve. I almost cried, it was so unexpected, I was so overwhelemd and it was the icing on the cake for a perfect birthday!

Me and April dancing at Mizuya Karaoke

Thi and me dancing on table tops, plus Julia's hand! Haha

Kimberly, Lucy, Thi, Me, Sophie and Julia

I'm so grateful for all the love that I have in my life, but I know that luck didn't just bring me good friends and a good relationship with my family. I had to pay great attention to my friends and family, put their needs first sometimes and be with them for their every success or mishap, because at the end of the day, they are 'worth it!' You may lose a job or money but you will bounce back from this. If you make a dent in your relationships with your family and friends, it is very hard to bounce back from this. This is just one of the life lessons I have learnt at 23 years old.

What other life lessons have I learnt?

Success is different for everyone
Only you know what success looks like for you. Don't compare or compete with others but achieve success on your own terms, for yourself and remain focused!

Hold your cards close to you
There are some secrets you should keep to yourself. You can only be open and honest 90% of the time. Keep your dirty little secrets to yourself. There's a reason why they are called, 'dirty little secrets!'

Variety is the spice of life
As the saying goes, 'You can't have chicken everyday!'. Life can get mundane and routine sometimes so try to do something spontaneous once in a while. Keep yourself challenged and stimulated. It keeps you happy, thinking and will make you feel 'alive'.

Be like water in the Ocean - just go with the flow!
There are some things in life you can't plan for and that are out of your control. While it is important to plan ahead for major events and milestones in your life, most of the time the best things in life come unexpectedly. It's best to be like water in the Ocean and just go with the flow and take things as they come rather than live life in constant anxiety, worrying about things that has not happened yet.

There is only one moment and that moment is right now.. be present and live it!