As of today, I have taken 25 trips around the sun. It’s hard to believe I am a quarter of a century old; I definitely don’t feel my age, which is probably a good thing. Birthdays always make me nostalgic and I start to reminisce on all the wonderful memories I am fortunate enough to have. My life has been far from perfect but it’s also been good and I fully acknowledge how lucky I am. I am so grateful for these 25 years and for all the lessons I have learned along the way.
In honor of my 25th birthday, today I’m sharing 25 things I have learned in my 25 years on planet Earth. A little disclosure: I’m still working on some of these items myself, especially numbers 15 and 24. While I haven’t mastered all of these lessons, I am aware of them and am actively working on them. The good thing about getting older is that you continue learning and growing.
1. Spend as much time as you can with your loved ones. You will never regret time spent with family and friends.
2. Every single day on this Earth is a gift. Time is not guaranteed to us so we have to make the most of each day.
3. Adopt a daily gratitude practice. It can transform your mindset and your life. When you focus on the good, the good gets better and brings more abundance into your life.
4. Be kind to every person you meet. You never know what other people are struggling with in their own lives.
5. All animals deserve compassion and respect. They want to live a good life just as much as you do.
6. It’s okay to not be okay all the time. It’s especially okay to cry if you need to. Crying can be very therapeutic.
7. Be your authentic self. Pretending to be someone you’re not doesn’t benefit anyone. Just be you and the right people will love you for it.
8. A healthy diet is all about balance. Yes, you have to eat lots of veggies and fruit but it’s okay to eat some processed foods here and there. A healthy diet doesn’t have to be ultra restrictive.
9. You are not the opinions of others. You decide who you are and who you want to be.
10. We only have one planet and we need to take care of mother nature. She can survive without us but we cannot survive without her.
11. Never stop learning new things. Watch documentaries, read books, listen to podcasts, and always continue expanding your knowledge base. Stay curious!
12. Please be a considerate driver; use your turn signal, let people cut in front of you, stop for animals crossing the road if you can.
13. Travel whenever you get the chance! Traveling to new places and experiencing different cultures is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. The adventures you go on and the memories you make while traveling are invaluable.
14. Keep a memory box. Save meaningful items, like birthday cards and souvenirs from trips, so you can later look back on them. I treasure my memory box and love looking through it every once in a while.
15. Trust the universe and the timing of your life. Everything happens as it should and what is meant for you will come to you at the right time.
16. Surround yourself with people who light you up and bring out the best in you. Don’t waste your time on people who make you feel like crap.
17. Life is not a race or a competition. It’s easy to get wrapped up in jealousy and comparing yourself to others but neither will help you. You have to follow your own path.
18. Everyone has something “weird” about them. We all go around thinking that we’re super weird and that no one is going to accept our weirdness when in actuality everyone is weird; some people just hide it better than others. We all have quirks, we all have embarrassing stories, we are all unique. Can we all just embrace our weirdness?!
19. Stargazing never gets old. It will always leave you in awe of our universe.
20. Watching sunrises and sunsets also never gets old. Watch as many of them as you can. There’s something so magical about watching the sky change color as the sun rises above or dips below the horizon.
21. Your past doesn’t have to define you. You’ve grown and evolved; you’re not the same person you were 5, 10, or 15 years ago.
22. One person can make a difference. It bothers me when people say, “I’m only one person; my actions don’t matter in the grand scheme of things.” If everyone thought that way, nothing would ever change.
23. Always stand up for what you believe in. If you are passionate about certain social justice issues, environmental issues, health issues, etc., then take actions that support your beliefs.
24. Get out of your comfort zone as often as possible and say yes to things that scare you. Comfort zones are safe because nothing changes within their confines. Change and growth happen when you step outside of what’s comfortable. Those first steps out of your comfort zone are the hardest but they end up being so worth it and will lead to some incredible experiences.
25. Every once in a while, make a list of things that make you happy, truly and completely happy. Remind yourself how beautiful and rare this life of yours truly is.
I can’t wait to see what this next year has in store for me. My 25th year was pretty great and I’m hoping my 26th involves more growth, more laughs, and more adventures.