28 Things I’ve Learned In 28 years
Another year has passed and I feel like this year has been the most reflective due to the circumstances so here are 28 things I’ve learned in 28 years.
If I remember correctly (blog restoration still in progress) this is the 4th year that I’ve done a post like this and while I’ve never looked back at the old posts, it would be interesting to see if there’s any lessons that reoccur.
Until the time to look at previous what I’ve learned posts comes, here are 28 (hopefully new) things I’ve learned:
Structure and routine is important
I’ve always been the kind of person who goes with the flow but have definitely realized this past year that having some sort of schedule allows you to create balance in your life and build discipline.
Dating for compatibility vs sustainability are two different things
My biggest mistake when it came to dating was definitely getting caught up in the chemistry and not taking a step back to think if the prospect and I were good for each other long term. This led me to keep people around longer than I should of instead of cutting it off early.
Confidence will get you further than any degree
I watched the HBO Max TV series called Generation Hustle (you can watch on Binge in Australia) and it was so wild to see the magnitude of how much people can get away with by just simply being confident and truly believing in their delusional reality.
No career path is linear
If I’m being honest, I do feel like I’m behind career wise even though I’ve done a lot that other people my age haven’t had the opportunity to do because they chose to get a job right after graduation.
My internal dilemma is that I have interests that I enjoy doing but I enjoy doing them because I’m not relying on them for income and I’m afraid that if those interests become my career then I’m not going to enjoy them anymore.
Life speaks to you if you are paying attention
To follow up on the lesson above, I recently read “Signs & Synchronicity: THE MAGIC OF SOUL-SPEAK” by Tricia Brennan and it really solidified the idea that life speaks to you through other people or whatever medium you’re most receptive to. A good example of this is with my whole career dilemma.
A week before writing this, I went to the public library to get some books and there was an exhibit called Mapping Our Way which had individuals with different careers map out how they go to where they are now. It was comforting to see people try different paths, change their minds, and ultimately find a career that is fulfilling.
Your limitations are actually an advantage
Limitations are often seen as a disadvantage but in actuality they push you to think outside the box and be imaginative in whatever you are trying to do.
A good example of this is with the bags that I make for my brand, Lumpsum Studios. When tufting was blowing up in 2020, everyone was getting a tufting gun and making rugs. I didn’t have the space for a large frame nor did I want to spend $300+ on a hobby so I used that limitation to focus on small scale projects with a punch needle.
If I had tried to do what everyone else was doing then I definitely would’ve never gotten the idea to turn what I was making into a bag.
Changing your mind doesn’t mean failure
This is a big one for me because I’ve realized that I hesitate to make decisions out of fear that I won’t like the choice that I made and end up feeling like I wasted my time. But in reality, not making a choice is accepting failure without even trying.
Strangers will support you more than people you know
Since launching my brand, I’ve been able to see the truth to this. I have received more love and support from people I’ve never met more than people I’ve known most of my life.
We are constantly shifting realities
When I was younger, I used to believe that no matter what choice you made in life you would end up exactly where you were meant to be. Now I believe that the choices you make every day determine which timeline you are on.
Life really starts in your 30s
When I was younger, I definitely saw your 30s as the beginning of the end but it’s actually when things start to fall into place and you get to see the flowers start to bloom from the seeds you planted in your 20s.
Your taste buds do change when you get older
I remember hearing that when you turn 27 your taste buds change and I didn’t really think anything of it, but for me this seems true. I never used to be able to handle anything spicy but now I don’t mind a little bit of spice.
There will be friends for all phases of life
I really believe that people come into your life for a reason and that not everyone is meant to stay. As individuals we are constantly growing and moving into different phases of life and there will be people that align with you better while you are on that path.
That definitely doesn’t mean you can’t still be friends with people from your past, but you might not naturally gravitate to each other as much.
Do what you want to do while you still have the energy
I’ve always had the thought of being a flight attendant in the back of my mind but phew, I don’t know what happens when you hit your late 20s but your ability to stay up all night and just be go-go-go all the time declines and it takes way longer to recover.
A relationship can be whatever you want it to be
Growing up, society forces all these cookie cutter beliefs about how a relationship should be that you feel like you have to adhere to, but as long as there is communication and the parties involved are satisfied then it can really be whatever you want it to be.
Using age as an obstacle is defeatism
As someone in their late 20s, I do sometimes feel like I’m “too old” for certain things but if we are all just souls having a human experience then age shouldn’t matter when it comes to expressing yourself and doing things that you enjoy.
Saturn’s return is real
I had been warned about how Saturn Return’s and didn’t really think any of it because I’ve always been a positive and mentally stable person, but yeah I constantly feel like I’m being challenged and have a lot of life decisions to make.
If you’re going to go to school, do it while you’re young
I’ve completed a 4 year Bachelors (stayed for 5 years) right after high school and recently finished a 1 year diploma and I swear the 1 year diploma was harder to finish. There is something about being surrounded by people that are in the same wild phase of life as you that really helps get you through it.
What is coming is better than what is gone
This can pertain to so many things in life but I think it really resonates when it comes to dating. When relationships end it can be so hard to imagine what that next phase is going to be and feel like. If you trust the process, it is better than what you could have ever imagined as long as you let go of the past.
Always have something to look forward to
The pandemic and all the lock downs really put this one into perspective. As human our emotions are always up, down, and fleeting, but I think always having something big or small to look forward to while staying present is a great way to keep yourself going.
Sometimes in order to move forward you have to take a step back
It can often feel like everything we do has to be a step up from what we have done before but that’s not always the case. Most recently, I was looking for a job in my field and as you know it can sometimes take a while.
At the end of the day, I just needed more income but felt like I had already paid my dues working in hospitality and retail. Once I changed my perspective and looked at working a job that I am overqualified for as a interim rather than as something negative, everything started to fall into place.
Knowing how to pivot is essential
Change is inevitable but the pandemic really showed everyone that no matter what happens you can always adapt if you know how to pivot. The failure to pivot was sadly the end for a lot of businesses in the past 2 years.
Your traumas/triggers will keep coming back until you truly heal
I never really used to think of myself as someone with traumas since I was a happy adolescent and had a normal childhood, but trauma doesn’t have to be something inflicted on you directly by other people. It can be inflicted on yourself based on subconscious beliefs and how you internalized experiences that you’ve had.
Once I had that realization, I was able to understand why I was constantly being challenged with the same lessons and how to overcome them.
There’s nothing wrong with being friends with people younger than you
I used to think it was really weird to be friends with people younger than you because my thought process was like, “what am I going to learn from someone who I assume hasn’t experienced as much as I have?” But for starters, I shouldn’t assume (Tik Tok showed me that) and this goes back to the notion that some people come into your life when there is a lesson to be taught or a message to be heard.
The more you know, the sadder you are
Growing up I was so naive, which is good because I think kids should have the chance to actually be kids. But since growing up and constantly being exposed to the realities of the world and seeing first hand the amount of greed and evil in the world is heartbreaking.
People don’t really care about you
At the end of the day all you truly have is yourself. I do believe that there are exceptions but I think overall most people only care about you when there is something beneficial in it for them or when you’ve passed.
You will always have problems to deal with
I would really like to know if there is anyone in the world that is 110% content with every aspect of their life. It feels like once you’ve resolved one issue there is another one lurking whether it’s with health, relationships, money, home, car, family, career, and everything in between.
Everything is a lie
I don’t think there’s much to be said for this one, but just do your own research and test your beliefs.
Not all thoughts are your own
A lot of the time when you’re constantly surrounded by other people and their energy it can be hard to separate what you think, feel, and want from other people. This is why it’s really important to give yourself some space and spend time alone to figure out what is authentic to you.
When I first started writing this post it was a bit hard to think of things that resonated with me that weren’t one of those classic go-to’s. It ended up all flowing nicely as I reminisced on things that I’ve experienced, thought, and consumed in the past year.
Can you relate to any of the 28 things I’ve learned in 28 years? Let me know in the comments.
Thanks for reading and stay hungry to learn, create, and grow!
