What better time to check in and reflect, than on a birthday.
The meaning of birthday celebrations changes year to year, and as we get older the term “birthday” looses it’s lust. I still think birthday’s should be celebrated, however, in proper form. You don’t need a fancy cake or presents to feel good on your special day. Instead, reflect on your twenty or thirty something years of life – you’ve made it to another benchmark year and you made it through alive.
All I need today is this tiny little blog post – a solid reflection on what another year has brought me and what I’ve been able to accomplish.
So, without further ado, here’s my celebration…
27 Lessons from a 27 year old
1 l Have fun.
Do things that bring you joy. It’s good for your soul, and if it involves other people, it’s even better! Do things just for the hell of it and you’ll have great stories to fill your book of life.
2 l Embrace your weird.
No- seriously – do it. Just be yourself and embrace all the odd things that may come with your personality. I don’t think I fully embraced my weird until I was in relationship with Ben. He lets me embrace all the weird things I thought others may find unattractive – it’s honestly some of the weirdest things I do that he loves the most, and it’s made me love myself more!
3 l Appreciate what you have.
Time is fleeting. And if 27 doesn’t knock some sense in to you then I’m sure 28, 29, and 30 will. Take a second to consider all the things you do have: life, health, friends, family, a home, energy, and ignorant bliss. It’s easy to take these things for granted as we go through the years. But it’s not until you get another year older, and realize you can’t keep up with the young chicks anymore that you realize how great you had it before.
4 l Be kind.
As we age we can become more irritated and more impatient in certain situations. Remember to be kind to everyone you interact with. Do your part in spreading joy in this world.
5 l Take your health seriously.
One thing I’ve learnt over the past few years is to take my health seriously. Aging doesn’t fix things, if anything it can only make it worse. At 27 we are still pretty much in our prime, but there is still a higher risk for diseases developing around this age. Eat healthy foods, exercise daily, and check in with your doctor regularly. Don’t take your health for granted.
6 l Build your confidence.
It’s the key to attraction, opportunity, and success. If you don’t feel confident, act confident, learn what needs to be learned, do what needs to be done, until you become confident. I definitely have struggled with insecurities, I still do, but I’m only human. Confidence and humility can coexist, just don’t cross the line and become cocky and boastful.
7 l Rearrange your priorities.
You’re 27 – it’s time to take a good hard look at your priorities in life. What do you really want? A house? A new car? Marriage? Babies? This is a time to reevaluate your 5 year plan and what lies ahead. Do you have the job you want? If not, how can you get there? Do you have the money saved to buy home? If not, how can you make that happen by the time you’re 30? When you start to ask yourself what’s really important you, the priorities in your life will rearrange themselves.
8 l No experience is a wasted experience.
If you can learn something from the experience, even if the lesson is to not do that particular thing again, it’s of value. Make every experience worth it in some way.
9 l Treat your parents with patience and kindness.
You won’t understand how much patience and kindness they needed to raise you until you have your own kids. I’m not even close to having kids, but I now have a better understanding of what they went through. I now know just how much they had to tackle to get where they are today. I know their love for me is unlimited, and I am blessed to have the family I have today. Show yours the same appreciation, kindness, and understanding that they have had for you all these years.
10 l Don’t forget to laugh
Just do it. It will make life so much better.
11 l Your friends may look different, and that’s okay.
Not everyone meets up with their group at Central Perk every day. And not everyone lives out a season of Friends (although I wish I did). At 27, your friendships wont look the same as they did when you were 21 and that’s okay. Life happens and sometimes we need to let go of certain people in our life.
12 l You’re doing better than you think you are.
Sometimes we just need to stop and take the time to think about all the things we have accomplished. You paid your bills. You got a job. You lost 1lb. You started a blog ;). You booked a vacation. You got engaged. You have a roof over your head. You have food in your home. You have a savings account. If any of these apply to you then I’d say you’re doing just fine.
13 l Travel Often.
It’s easy to stay in one town or city and forget there’s a huge world outside of us. Pack your bags, take a day trip, catch a flight to a city you’ve never been to before, and create new memories. The experiences you have and the lessons you learn while traveling are invaluable.
14 l Don’t be afraid to say Fu** it .
Aging also breeds a certain sense of entitlement. We are at a point in our lives in which most of us know our likes and dislikes. Learn how to say Fu** it and say no to the things you don’t genuinely want to do.
15 l Things that people say “can’t be done” can usually be done.
Don’t believe everything you hear. People like to complain about their failures or mistrials. Don’t let them get you down. Most things can be done if you apply yourself.
18 l This too shall pass.
It’s a simple realization that all of existence is in a constant state of transition. This moment, the way things are as they currently appear, will change… and, it already has. Remember this during the darkest moments in your life, things will change, things will get better.
19 l Drink Red Wine.
Pour yourself a glass and relax. Wine is the center of all happiness (or maybe that’s just me two glasses deep). Wine has the wonderful ability to relax our mind and brings smiles to faces. Who doesn’t want that?
20 l Give back.
There are plenty of people in this world that have it worse off than you. Donate your time, money, or lend a hand to someone in need.
21 l Wash Your Face.
Okay this is not a “life lesson”, but it’s still an important one. Always, always remove make-up before going to bed. Apart from being bad for your skin, it makes your pillow a breeding ground for bacteria. I know late-night face-washing sucks. One word: wipes.
22 l Put your phone down.
Ben is going to yell at me for this one. Since I began blogging, I am constantly on my phone or in front of a computer screen. I’m doing my best to conscious of my use of social media. It’s important to disconnect from the world of technology every once and a while. Being present is sometimes the hardest yet simplest thing to do.
23 l Wear what you want.
Wear whatever the heck you feel like wearing. There are no fashion rules. Sure, there are fashion trends that most people follow, but are not the basic guidelines for society. So if you want to wear slippers while your out grocery shopping, more power to ya.
24 l Organize.
Learn how to organize your life. Whether it’s cleaning out your closet or buying file folders for your bills, having a little structure wont hurt anyone. Marie Kondo that shi**.
25 l Stop waiting for acceptance.
Stop trying to make people like you. Everyone is different, and you don’t need universal outside approval to know you’re awesome.
26 l Start saving money.
As my father always says ” Pay yourself first.”
Start saving money now, even just a tiny bit. Expenses sprout all the time and you need a nest egg. Having a little bit of savings is like having an escape hatch when you need an out.
27 l Celebrate Birthdays.
Celebrate, reflect, and treat yourself for a day. You’re awesome and you deserve to celebrate a life well lived.
Loved everything about this post!