It is official. I am closer to 30 years old than I am to 20 years old. If that doesn’t make me want to curl up in a ball, then I don’t know what will. I feel like I am having an existential crisis, watching myself age from my 22-year-old eyes. How did this happen? Where did the years go? Because I am 22, right? Right?! Well, the truth is I am not. I am 26. Or at least I am in 10 days. And as I age another year older, I reflect on my life so far and although it feels like I have done so little I know that is not the truth. I have graduated from school (which vividly remember thinking would never end) and university, I bought a car, I have travelled to 12 countries, I moved out of home, I am in a loving relationship, I have discovered passions and hobbies and I started a business (hello magazine). The list goes on. Whilst that might not seem like a riveting list, it means a lot to me and that’s okay. But whilst I reflect on my list of accomplishments, I also reflect on the lessons I have learned and boy I have learned a bloody lot of things… mostly the hard way. So here is my list of 26 things that I have learned in 26 years, from someone who has absolutely no idea what they are doing.
1. Life is too fucking short.
Life is too short to um and ah. Just do it. Go on that trip, quit your job, bleach your hair, do whatever you think will make you happy and stop overthinking it. It’s cliché but the older I get, the more I appreciate the “live life with no regrets” sentiment because it’s actually true. But be smart about it of course. Don’t gamble all of your money away and certainly don’t blame me for that if you choose to do so.
2. Start celebrating your birthday. No, it is not another ordinary day.
Since I was conscious enough to be aware of my friendship circle, I have always brushed off my birthday because I didn’t think I had enough friends to celebrate it. Truthfully, I still feel like don’t but as I have grown older, I have started to appreciate the idea of celebrating myself and the people who go out of their way to make it special. What I am trying to say is, go wine and dine yourself, book a massage, get your nails done, and splurge on a well-deserved birthday present because you are worth it. Happy birthday Queen.
3. Travel every chance you get.
Money will come and go. Don’t wait to experience life. Book that trip!!
4. Move out of home if you know what’s good for you.
Now this advice isn’t for everyone and if you live in a healthy household
5. Start being more confident.
When I say confidence, I mean in ALL areas. Confident in your ability to achieve your goals, confident in how you look, and confident about your personality. We are so quick to doubt and tear ourselves down and I have done it my whole life. It’s time to cut that out sis.
6. Take more pictures of yourself.
One day you will look back and regret not taking more pictures of yourself. Be a self-absorbed girly so you can show the grandkids how hot you were back in the day.
7. Not everyone will like you and that’s okay.
You cannot be friends with everyone, and you should not alter yourself to make that happen. Be kind to others, listen to them and most importantly, be unapologetically you. Those who want to be in your life will respect you for you!
8. Not everyone will understand you and that too is okay.
Not everyone will understand you, how you think, why you do what you do, your quirks and how you tick and that’s okay. But hold on tight to those who do because it will be those relationships that bring you so much positivity and joy in your life.
9. Mistakes are how you learn.
Just like trying to enter your password that you can never remember because the system makes you change it every three months (can you tell how much this triggers me), keep making mistakes until you learn. Heck, you will probably make the same mistake multiple times but one day it will click, and you will learn from it. Just. Like. magic.
10. Pizza and wine cure everything.
The dynamic duo that makes aaall of your worries disappear. Well, temporarily.
11. Get your eyes tested. Turns out you can’t see that well.
Who knew?! I had no idea the world could look like this.
12. For the love of god STOP comparing yourself to others.
I am ashamed to admit that I have genuinely spent HOURS (mostly at night) comparing myself to others, trying to think of how I can improve myself or
13. Friends will come and go, and it’s probably got nothing to do with you as a person.
As we age, our values and priorities tend to shift, which is a natural part of growing up. It’s common to discover that we no longer share the same perspectives as those around us or that we have been left behind by others who have moved on. This does not mean that we have undesirable qualities or that we are bad individuals. People evolve and progress in search of their place in life, and it is natural to do so. However, we will also come across new people who share our ideals, either for a short or long period. This is the cycle of friendships and transformation throughout our lives.
14. Don’t be scared to change careers.
Don’t listen to your parents. You can change your career at any point, and will you never be too old to do so.
15. Sun and a good book.
Need I say more?
16. Jeans are the most uncomfortable thing in the world.
No but actually who enjoys wearing jeans?
17. Trust your gut.
Intuition is your best friend. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. If you have a good feeling about it, roll with it. I don’t know how your gut can tell the future but it’s pretty good at it in my opinion.
18. Get your gut tested.
I know hot girls have stomach problems, but have you ever wondered why? Do an intolerance test. Thank me later.
19. It will get better.
Grieve for however long you need to do so but always remember it will get better. Whether it’s heartbreak, loss or maybe things are just not working out as you had hoped, the only way from down is up.
20. Learning to switch off is hard but crucial.
Don’t be like me and work yourself to the bone. Burnout is a horrible experience and as hard as it can be to schedule time for yourself it’s crucial for your mental and physical wellbeing.
21. You come first. Stop being a serial people pleaser.
If I had a dollar for every time I went above and beyond to please someone, I would have bought a house by now. There is a difference between being kind and bending over backwards to people please. Recognise the difference and make sure you are number one.
22. There is no shame in staying in on weekends and going to bed early.
How good is not waking up with a hangover? Embrace the grandma life.
23. Love is a beautiful thing.
If you look for it, love is actually all around you. Whether it is family, friends, a partner, a pet or your neighbour saying hello to you, caring is love and it’s beautiful. Cherish it.
24. Celebrate the little victories.
Don’t downplay those little victories. You did that! Celebrate it because little victories lead to big ones.
25. Stop doubting how special you are.
Say it louder for the people in the back! You are special! You are unique and quirky and have so much good in you. Self-doubt is a common embedded trait in almost every single person (particularly in women), and it is toxic in allowing us to see who we truly are: a ridiculously special person.
26. You do not know everything nor should you.
I wish I knew what I was doing, but I don’t. I have no clue. But then again, I also do know what I’m doing. I do, but I don’t, and I can’t really explain it in any other way. But that’s okay. And if someone tries to tell you that they have it all figured out they are either delusional or lying to you because no one ever really knows what they are doing. Life is about learning and growing and it’s kind of fun, you should try it sometime.
To read more about our founder’s experiences of being in her 20s, click here.
To learn more life lessons, head here.
