Earlier this week (Tuesday to be exact) marked me being 25 and a half years old. Damn. How has it already been six months since I've turned a quarter of a century?
Growing up 25 had always seemed to be such a "grown-up" age. By now I figured I'd have my life figured out, thriving in my career, engaged, owning my own property, and fully supporting myself. I hate to break it to my younger self, but I am definitely not all of those things now. In fact, to be honest I still feel like a third-year college student at times in disbelief that I'm out on my own. I may not have everything figured out or live in an aesthetically pleasing townhouse, but I'm learning as I go and that's all that matters.
For the past six months or so I've been doing a lot of reflecting on lessons I've learned, how life would be a little easier if I learned them earlier, and the experiences I went through to learn those lessons. We can all agree 2020 has been a tough year. Loss, sickness, a global lockdown, the uncertainty. As tough as this past year has been, I feel like I had to go through some of these experiences to learn some of these lessons and shape me into a better person.
Today I thought I'd dive into some of these lessons that I've learned so far in my 25 years of life. Some of these were a lot harder to learn than others but at the end of the day, the experience has served some kind of purpose.
1. You're not going to be everyone's cup of tea, and that's ok. You can't be everything to everyone. In business, in life, and in relationships. You can be yourself and the right people will find their way to you.
2. There is no right "timeline" for life. I feel like many of my fellow gals in their 20s feel this. There's an expectation of women to go through college, have a successful career, find a husband, get married, move into a house, and have their first kid all before the age of 30. The funny thing about life is that no matter how much you try to plan and have a schedule for it, it always finds a way to get off track. The right timeline for you may be wrong for someone else, and that's ok.
3. Reason, season, or a lifetime. People come and go for particular reasons. Now this less was a hard one for me. No one likes to have people walk out of their life unexpectedly, and if you're someone like me who latches on to every relationship they have it cuts deep. Sometimes we don't know why some friendships fade, but each person is in your life for a reason to teach us something, a season as in a short period of time or a lifetime.
4. Food gives you energy, and shouldn't be the enemy. Body dysmorphia and the fear of weight gain is such a real and scary thing, especially for young girls. When I finally shifted my mindset and relationship with food, the better my body felt.
5. Life is short. Enjoy everything.
6. It's ok to change your mind. You get older, you expose yourself to new environments, and learn new things. It's ok your preferences and thoughts aren't the same as they were when you were 18.
7. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Your mind is so powerful and you need to take care of it as much as you take care of your physical appearance. Take a break. Breathe. Talk to someone.
8. Let it rain. You can't control everything. Let it rain and adjust accordingly.
9. Let go of people who cause you harm. Some relationships are more draining than others. As much as you want to salvage them, sometimes they do more harm than good. As hard as it may be, it's sometimes best for the both of you to cut ties and move on.
10. Drink water. Your body will thank you.
11. Comparison is the thief of joy. Stay in your own lane. There's always going to be someone out there who has more, do more, accomplish more, there's always going to be more and better. At the end of the day, you need to find what makes you happy and content.
12. Embrace what makes you different. It's what makes you, you. It'll be better for you in the long run.
13. Be kind to everyone. You never know what they could be going through. Smiles can be fake. Emotions can be suppressed.
14. It's ok to splurge on yourself everyone once and a while. You work hard. Celebrate your accomplishments and milestones. Treat yourself, you deserve it.
15. Listen to your mom. She's right 99% of the time. You may not see it immediately, but she's usually always right.
16. If they want to talk to you, they'll make the effort to reach out. This was more so when I started dating again. If a guy really wants to talk to you, he'll talk to you. Don't waste your time on games, the right one will come along.
17. Save your money. A Rainy day happens. A global pandemic happens. The unexpected happens. Start saving your money early, you'll thank yourself later.
18. Breaks are necessary. I grew up in a household where the only days off we had were Thanksgiving and Christmas... and even then we would go grocery shopping in a city 2 hours away and do work on the house. It wasn't until recently I realized the importance of breaks and the good vacation can do for the mind.
19. It's ok to ask for help. It's not a sign of weakness.
20. Spend more time with your parents. Just do it. We're not getting any younger and it'll make them happy too.
21. Know your audience. This doesn't just apply to business. Learn how to tailor and convey a message to the person you're speaking to that will help resonate the message to them.
22. Social media is a highlight reel. No one want's to publish the low parts of their life for everyone to see. Remember that.
23. Movement is good for the mind. Exercise is not only for your physical health, but your mental health as well. Take a break. Go on a run. You'll thank yourself later.
24. Hot showers do wonder. I go in anxious, come out refreshed. It's magical.
25. Just do you. People are judgy. They will have an opinion no matter what you do. Mine as well do what makes you happy. You probably won't see them again anyway.
Whew. That's it! I still have a lot to learn and experience in life and I'm looking forward to seeing what life has planned for me. What have you learned so far in life? Let me know in the comments down below! I hope you all have a great day and as always, thank you for reading!
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