Welcome to my very first blog post! What better way to kick things off than with some of my all-time favorite life lessons? Having had turned 25 in June, I wanted to honor this milestone by imparting one piece of wisdom I’ve gained per year of my life onto you. So far, being a quarter of a century doesn’t feel like a crisis. Instead, it feels like the perfect time to start bringing my passion projects to life! I’ve been giving “WOW” (words of wisdom) since middle school and writing for fun since elementary school, so it’s safe to say this blog has been a long time coming. Hopefully through this list of life lessons, you’ll get a general sense of my personal philosophies that will be recurring themes in my content. Just as importantly, hopefully at least one of them resonates with and inspires you!
1- Life is working for you, not against you. It may not make sense right now, but trust that it will make more sense over time.
2- Action-taking toward your goals, even if the results of any singular action are minimal in isolation, can be great for the mind. It can automatically make you feel better and closer to where you want to be.
3- Don’t ignore your gut feeling—if something doesn’t feel right, it isn’t right. You don’t always need a laundry list of reasons why it isn’t right. All you need is to know deep down that it isn’t.
4- The right people for you will not only accept but celebrate you as you are. Don’t settle for less.
5- Every chapter in your story, even the most mundane or the most difficult ones, serve valuable purposes. You may not recognize it in the moment, but time will reveal all.
6- While having strong relationships (whether familial, platonic, romantic, etc.) is certainly important, the most important relationship you could possibly have is that with yourself. Be sure to nurture it daily.
7- If you try something, and it doesn’t go the way you hoped, at least you can say you did it for the plot. Sometimes the worst fails make for the greatest stories.
8- Instead of romanticizing people who you know are wrong for you (which can only lead to more disappointment and heartache), channel that energy toward romanticizing your life. After all, it’s already abundant with the right people and things for you, with much more to come.
9- Journaling is an incredible tool that can serve a wide range of purposes—whether you use it to brain dump, document the details of each day, express gratitude, reflect, plan ahead, or anything in between. Not only are journals helpful to write in, but to reread later on.
10- It’s okay not to have all the answers regarding where you’re headed in life. Your life experiences will slowly but surely give you those answers.
11- Don’t be afraid to evolve and outgrow things; it only makes you human.
12- Positivity is such a powerful force, and it most certainly doesn’t have to equate to naivety or lack of logic. Just as is true with so many things in life, it’s all a matter of how you use it.
13- What’s meant for you can’t possibly escape you. So if something is escaping you, it’s either not meant for you in the end or not meant for you right now.
14- There’s no need to bend over backwards to show someone your worth when someone else will recognize it right away.
15- Failure is most definitely not the end of the world. In fact, it can be a gift (hear me out…). Failing can arm you with so much more knowledge and confidence going into your next attempt. This will only make your eventual success that much more gratifying.
16- There’s no “normal” timeline or path that you need to be on. You just have to be on the one that’s right for you.
17- As you mature through life, your judgment, standards, decision-making skills, etc. will level up. If you look back at past decisions and cringe a little, consider that a sign that you’ve come a long way.
18- While looks are far from everything, it can still be worthwhile and fun to put effort into your appearance for your own confidence and self-expression. When you like the way you look, it’s bound to boost your mood.
19- Each day is a new chance to turn things around or make a different decision than you’ve made previously. One day can change everything if you let it.
20- Creativity is therapeutic for the soul. Even if you don’t consider yourself artistic, you can probably find some form of creativity that you enjoy, regardless of the end product.
21- There’s no better teacher of life lessons than life experience. Even your most difficult experiences will provide you with valuable insight and help you grow. It’s just a matter of identifying, appreciating, and implementing these takeaways.
22- You have to be a beginner before you can be a master at anything. There’s a great deal of courage in starting something messily. Embrace the process, and soon enough, you will see progress.
23- Don’t sell yourself short. Remind yourself of what you’re capable of, and go after whatever it is that you want.
24- There’s so much beauty in paradox and nuance. You don’t have to reduce yourself to “this” or “that” for anything if it doesn’t apply.
25- For as long as you’re living, it’s never too late to create an amazing life for yourself.
And there we have it, 25 life lessons I’ve learned in 25 years. I could go on with so many more, but that’s what the rest of this blog will be for (rhyme unintended)! I’m beyond excited for this new chapter (both literal and figurative)!