I have reached my final week in my twenties, and whilst in my final countdown, I figured I should reflect on some things I’ve learned this last year. I could do 30 things, but let’s be honest no one wants to read that much. So here are 13 things I’ve either learned or have been reinforced this last year.

1. It’s ok to say no, and anyone who is not ok with it is not someone you need to engage with anyways. Which leads me to my next one….
2. Boundaries are so important but they look different for everyone. There is no one size fits all approach to how to set or handle them, and it’s ok for that to change over time. It’s also important to allow yourself the grace to figure it out, and do not let the title of family make you feel like you are unable to enforce a boundary there either. Also, if you need to block someone, baby block ‘em. You deserve some peace.
3. You can choose to complain or you can elect to be solution oriented. Of course, it is important to allow yourself the opportunity to get things off your chest, but it’s also important to remember the long-term goal should be what am I doing to solve it. Stewing in negativity truly only punishes yourself. That being said….
4. Sometimes there is no right or wrong answer, and sometimes there is no true solution. Learn to be at peace with something and let it be. Not everything is meant to be “fixed”.
5. Health is so much more than diet and exercise. It’s important to also honor and take care of your mental health, to sleep, and to be conscious of what you consume via the news and social media/how much time you spend on your phone.
6. Take the damn walk. Tell yourself it’s only going to be 10-15 minutes and by the time you hit that mark you are going to want to keep walking anyways.
7. Don’t imbed your identity in your job. It is wonderful to love what you do, everyone should. However, it’s also important to allow yourself the opportunity to be and do more outside of it as well. At the end of the day, everyone is replaceable. It may take them two to three people to replace you… but they can and they will. Honor yourself enough to have a life outside of work because down the road those are the moments you are going to cherish and appreciate.
8. There is a difference between a social life and noise. It’s important to have social interaction, but it’s also important to be able to sit with yourself and do things alone sometimes.
9. You can make the right decision and it still be hard, and its ok to allow yourself to be sad about it.
10. Comparison truly is the thief of joy. If you focus on what you lack you will always have something to add to the list, but if you focus on what you have and truly need you will be content with so much less and learn to appreciate things so much more. This applies to more than just things.
11. Sunshine is so important, but you also should invest in some Vitamin D. And some other vitamins while you are at it.
12. My anxiety meds work best when I take them every day and not when I elect the weekend off mentality.
13. Wanting to learn and grow as a person is great, but don’t forget that you also are perfect the way you are now. Love and appreciate yourself for that too.  

Cheers to that,

Kels

Nov 21, 2021 at 1:07 PM