20 Things I Learned in My 20s
Well folks, it’s happening. My dirty 30’s are upon me! I’ll be turning 30 in a few days and if I’m being honest, I’m kind of looking forward to my 30’s. Having survived a decade of some my biggest blessings and lessons; from graduating university (all of two times!), moving to a new country in hopes of better opportunities, getting hired, fired, laid off, landing a job in my major, travelling to 3 new countries and 4 new states; marrying my college sweetheart, finally starting my blog, buying a house and meeting some amazing people along the way. Yep, it’s been quite a journey! And in between all of that, I definitely had my moments of hopelessness and mistakes! Nevertheless, I’m excited for what is shaping up to be the beginning of a new season of my life, simply because I know what’s important to me now and I have a better sense of self. Birthdays always put me in a reflective mood, and in an attempt to celebrate how far I’ve come in the last decade, here are 20 things I’ve learned in my 20’s.
It's Okay to Say No.....
I used to do this thing where I didn’t want to let people down so I would go along with things even when I didn’t exactly agree with them. In the moment it would be easier to say “yes” than to deal with peoples’ reaction then and there but I’ve realized you don’t have to accept things you are not comfortable with and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t do it all.
Take pride in what you do no matter how small or unimportant it might seem.
I spent a good portion of my twenties juggling a number of odd jobs, but I must say I don’t regret any of them because I learned so many valuable lessons that ultimately prepared me for bigger opportunities. Sometimes, the biggest life lessons come from the smallest of things.
Gratitude is a must!
Yes friends Koffee said it best, lol! There is never a moment when I don’t stop to think about how I use to hope and pray for the things I now have so with everything that shows up in my life, I am appreciative because there was a time when I had less.
Don't dwell on your mistakes for too long.
Mistakes drive me crazy! Especially those avoidable ones, so you can imagine how much I would beat myself up any time I messed up. The truth is, we’re going to make mistakes but it’s up to us to learn from them and move on.
You'll never truly be happy if you constantly seek the validation of others. No matter what you do in life people will judge, so do what you feel in your heart is right.
Stay true to yourself.
In the era of “influencers” it’s so easy to be swayed by everything around you but dig deep and continue to be your true authentic self! In the end your uniqueness will set you apart from everyone else.
It's OKAY to not have a big group of friends.
Social media can make you feel like you are missing out if you don’t have this raging social life filled with partying and going out every other night. But as you get older you see that having a few great friends- and I’ve got those, is better than a bunch of fake ones.
Nothing is worth the price of your health or peace of mind.
I had a job once that literally made me sick! Sure the pay was really good, but the work environment was unbelievably stressful and it eventually took a major toll on my health. I’m still dealing with the effects from that stressful time. It really wasn’t worth it.
You have to tell people what you want, to get what you want
People aren’t mind readers and sometimes things can get lost in translation when you are not being explicitly clear,so the next time someone asks “what do you want?” tell them.
Worrying is the most pointless emotion ever!
It's never too early to work towards being the healthiest you.
Start forming those habits early. Eat more veggies, up your water intake, start juicing, hit the gym or even do more walking! Your body will thank you a million times over later on!
There is no timeline to accomplish things in life.
I don’t know why, but I use to have this expectation that I needed to have my life figured out by 25. What was I thinking?! Life is neither a race nor a competition. In fact, I still have plenty of things to cross off my bucket list.
Pick your battles. If it won’t matter in a few days, don’t waste your time dwelling on it.
It’s okay to have a good cry. No reason needed; just let it out.
Don’t follow anyone both in real life and online that makes you feel bad about yourself.
If you find yourself playing the unhealthy game of comparison then unfollow or remove that person from around you.
Things get better with time. Have faith and be patient.
Being sweet all the time can get you in trouble, especially when people take advantage of this trait in you. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself.
Nothing worth having will come easy. You have to be willing to put in that extra work, to achieve your dreams and aspirations.
The best things in life aren't things.
Accept that sometimes things don't work out for a reason.
Well there you have it! 20 life lessons from my 20’s. Chances are if I make it to the next decade I’ll probably look back on these and have a “wtf was I thinking moment”, lol! Nevertheless, I can’t wait to see what my thirties will teach me and the type of person I will become. What are some things your 20’s taught you? Let me know down below!
