25 Things I’ve Learned in 25 Years

1. Relationships are everything.

 

I am not talking about your boo-thang. I’m talking about every relationship you forge in your life. From your boyfriend’s roommates to the chick you always run into at networking events. Everyone you encounter is a soul with a heart and a mind and a different bit of knowledge and energy that you can tap into. Treat them as delicately as possible. Nurture the nontoxic ones. Be genuine and let it flow.

 

2. Black on black will never fail you.

 

LBD. Black jeans + black tee. Black turtleneck. Black boots. Black flippy floppies. Just stock up, girl. Get you some woolite, too.

3. Just because you have things in common does not mean you are compatible.

 

Okay?!

 

4. Your parents are human beings.

 

Fallible and fragile and imperfect—but exclusive to you. I know you’ve spent so much of your life thinking they were omniscient super-beings with an unending wealth of money and resources. But, they ain’t. Give them a break.

 

5. You have been a complete asshole for the majority of your life.

 

Sowweee.

 

6. “You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.”

 

I literally can’t write another blog post about this because I’ve already written 10 million. Go read one.

 

7. Invincibility isn’t a thing. You can/will:

   a.) Crash your car (or four of your cars. Whoops.)
   b.) Lose your job (yeahhh…. that was a fun day)
   c.) Get cheated on (also a fun day)
   d.) Humiliate yourself in front of a large crowd (voice cracked while singing a solo in front of my entire high school)

 

 

8. Slow. The eff. Down.

 

Don’t be in a rush to get to anywhere. Don’t compare your 25^th year to anyone else’s. Proofread your shit a couple of times. Quit posting selfies when you’re drunk.

 

9. Don’t sleep in your makeup.

   a.) See also, don’t hug anyone with a white shirt whilst wearing makeup.

 

 

10. Not everyone likes you/thinks you’re funny.

 

This actually kind of sucked to learn but… what can you do. As long as YOU like YOU!

 

11. Try it all

    a.) Hair styles
    b.) Fashion trends
    c.) Foods

 

 

12. Write it all down

 

I have been blogging since I learned that blogging was a thing. Before that I was writing novels and plays on our family Gateway Desktop in Notepad. Before that, I was literally just writing down my thoughts/feelings in composition books in my bedroom. There is nothing more valuable than looking back and seeing where I was, how I overcame some dark places, and learning from the crazy mistakes I’ve made. Writing is such a powerful tool that transports readers into a personal galaxy of whatever they are reading. It is wildly cathartic and it is the only way I know how to effectively communicate and process all of the abstract thoughts in this brain of mine. Try it out.

 

13. Take pictures

 

Document your glow up.

 

14. Shut up + listen

 

To your mentors, parents, siblings, friends, etc. We are so eager to prove what we know. I have learned the most when I allowed someone to teach me by shutting the eff up.

 

15. Raise your hand

 

Stick your neck out. Volunteer. Put yourself out there. That’s how I got my most recent job. It’s how I’ve met some of my closest friends. It’s always worth it.

 

16. Anger is a heavy emotion to carry and you regret all actions that come out of it.

 

Just let it go.

 

17. You never regret practicing selflessness

 

Ever.

 

18. Humble yourself, before God, your family, your job, the universe does it for you.

 

They will. Trust me.

 

19. Keep your LinkedIn/resume together all the times.

    a.) Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.

 

More on that at the Columbus Women in Digital Fall Conference in October 😉

 

20. You can never have enough:

    1. Socks
    2. Underwear (Always hit up 7/$25’s)
    3. Pasta sauce + noodles
    4. Books
    5. References
    6. Hugs
    7. Gratitude

 

 

21. Most cliché’s are cliché’s for a reason. (They’re true.)

    a.) Your personality/character is what makes you beautiful. Promise. Promise. Promise. Promise. Promise!!!
    b.) If he don’t like your x, y, z, he’s doesn’t deserve you anyway!
    c.) “Everything happens for a reason.”

 

 

22. Just… get your oil changed. Just do it.

 

RIP ’99 Ford Escort ZX2

 

23. Drink a shit ton of water. Like… everyday.

 

24. Tell your grandma + mom + brother + cousin + friend from high school you love them. Seriously. You just don’t know when you’ll get that chance again.

 

 

25. You have to be with yourself for the rest of your life. Invest the time and energy on making sure YOU are good with YOU. Mind + body + soul.

 

OKAY?!?!