Hey there. Remember me? I’ve been quiet, but I never left you.
I am twenty-five. TWENTY-FIVE. I’ve been looking forward to being twenty-five for a long time, and now that it’s here I feel compelled to share some wisdom I’ve collected over the years. No, I don’t think I am wise, or all-knowing, but I do speak from experience. Although I might not be quick to share all my stories with you, please know that these are all lessons that I have taken to heart, and I carry them with me everywhere I go. I hope that you read this listicle and find something that resonates with you.
- Not everyone will understand you, but no one will if you don’t put yourself out there.
- You will be too much for some people – Those aren’t your people.
- Be yourself – Always be yourself. Don’t bend or mold for those who don’t accept you for who you truly are.
- Don’t say hurtful things, even behind someone’s back. Just because you can, or because you want to, doesn’t mean you should. S/he is a person too, and they also have feelings. What you say sometimes has a way of circling back around and sometimes it’s the hurtful things that stick forever.
- The Universe has a way of keeping you in check. The energy you put out into the world will come back to you tenfold.
- You can be mad at someone and still miss them.
- Expectation is the root of all disappointment and heartaches. Go with the flow and relax a little. As cheesy as this is, everything does happen for a reason.
- Acknowledge your insecurities and use them to grow yourself as a person.
- Self-care is how you take your power back. Don’t be ashamed of your emotions. Embrace them. Do everything with all the love you have in your heart.
- Never lie. (This is a pet peeve of mine. I feel like I’ve become really good at sniffing out lies as of late.) Don’t lie to yourself and certainly don’t lie to the people who love you. Just be honest – it’s not always easy, but it is always for the best.
- When you love someone, you should tell them often – a lover, a family member, a friend, (your pet). And vice versa, if someone tells you they love you, accept it and treat them with respect. It shows great strength to let your guard down to let someone in.
- Sometimes it’s better to be kind than to be right.
- You don’t destroy the people you love; you build them up and help them grow. Do this with a pure heart and good intentions.
- Don’t live in the past. It can tear you away from your happiness. Focus on your uncharted future and know that you, alone, hold the power to change the path you are on. You, alone, can decide who walks that path with you.
- Finally, the greatest lessons are usually learned during our worst times and from our worst mistakes. Learn from them, and learn how to apologize. I am thankful that I can look back on things and feel remorse – I own my mistakes and I apologize for them. Even if it takes you years before realizing you may have said something you shouldn’t have, own it, and deliver that apology. After not speaking to my best friend for four years, I reached out and apologized (on several occasions) and she forgave me. To this day, we are still the best of friends.
There are so many other tidbits I want to share with you all, but I don’t want to ramble on for too much longer. I’ve always been an emotional person – and that’s not always a good thing – but I really do live my life by these lessons. I’m sure you all have seen me post quotes, maybe even these exact lessons, on my Instagram and Snapchat stories. They mean so much to me and I hope that you will pause long enough to let some of those words pour into your hearts.
We all make mistakes. No one is perfect. We hurt people, we lose people, and we outgrow people, but we should still strive to be the best we can be each and every day. I’m such a dork, I’m tearing up just writing all this now. Maybe that will help you understand that this post isn’t just about turning twenty-five, or lessons learned. This post is me. It is my heart.
What life lessons do you live by?
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