25 Lessons For 25 Years
Today I turned 25. Quarter-century. What a milestone.
IImage by Sana Mansuri
As corny as this sounds, I consider birthdays to be annual reviews. I acknowledge what I had accomplished that year and then analyze what lessons I will take into my next year.
24 was huge for reflection. I had so many lows yet returned with many highs. This year, I got laid off (not once, but twice), worked through SO MANY rejections in every aspect of my life, failed at a lot of projects, and embarrassed myself immensely half a million times. But then, I also solo traveled to Dubai, found my dream career, created a blog, started training for a half marathon, and stopped drinking for 6 months. like the universe was on something this year.
To say the least, I’ve done a lot. With all these experiences come a lot of learnings. So here are my 25 lessons to celebrate my 25 years of existence.
Patience is a virtue and a strength, practice this DAILY!
Being outside your comfort zone is hard, and not a lot of people know how to be “uncomfortable”. There is so much good in trying new things and taking yourself outside your preconceived ideas.
Movement fixes everything. Your mood, health, and emotional health.
Own your mistakes. Nobody is perfect and we all mess up at some point. It’s not about the mistake, but how you move forward from it.
Mental health > sleep > good food > everything else
You ingest a lot of calories when you drink. 100-calorie seltzers add up fast.
No reason or person should make you mad. (this is what I tell myself when I am mad)
Hobbies are what separate work from life. They keep you curious and motivated.
You are what you eat. If you eat well, you will feel good. If you don’t eat good, you will feel bad.
Conversate with anyone willing to talk. You never know when a conversation will make someone’s day or learn something new.
Make time for others and don’t disrespect the time others give to you. Communicate when you are late and be sure to show up. People will remember.
Failure is not bad. Like the cliche says “without risks, there are no rewards”. You can always learn from the wrongs.
Delulu is the solulu. No but really, there is nothing you can’t do if you put your mind to it.
Comparison is the thief of joy. There is no good energy from worrying about what others have or do with their lives. Focus on you boo.
Always be curious. There are so many opportunities right around the corner if we continue to try. Learning never stops ✨
Time blocking is everything and the best way to organize your life. This is a management technique that breaks your day into blocks of time to dedicate to specific tasks. This works for my ADD brain. If you have questions on this, watch this video from [insert]
Don’t knock it till you try it. Always try something at least once. Whether it is a new food, a new activity, or an opportunity, always give it a shot before you cancel it out. You never know, you might be surprised.
Stay committed to your goals and aspirations. Showing up does not mean being 100% everyday but really about doing 1% more than you did the day before. Sometimes all you need to do is sulk in bed and that’s okay too.
Stay humble and empathetic. I always put myself in others’ shoes to just keep myself in check.
The people you keep around you matter!! Surround yourself with those who inspire you and uplift you during your lows. These are the folks who take you from a step to a mile.
That being said, be okay with people leaving your life. Not everything is personal and it’s okay to support from afar.
Rejection is redirection. As discouraging as it may be at times, what is not meant to you will not come to you. And if you keep pushing, there will be a rainbow at the end of the tunnel.
Always work hard and share good work. Quality > quantity.
Questions are good. Never feel like you ask a lot. But definitely do your due diligence before asking.
You can never take up too much space in a room. You deserve to be in every room you are invited to. Your words matter. Think before you speak but voice your thoughts with your chest.
If you’ve gotten to the end, I hope there is something you can take away from this. Cheers to another year of life and love!
