26 Lessons Learned In 26 Years

As the pages of the calendar turn, I find myself on the cusp of a new year, reflecting on the tapestry of experiences that have shaped me. With a heart both full of gratitude and a touch of wistfulness, I’ve gathered twenty-six lessons learned in twenty-six years. (26 Lessons Learned In 26 Years)

This isn’t just a list; it’s a conversation with you, dear reader, a chance to share the whispers of wisdom life has entrusted to me. So, grab a metaphorical cup of tea, and let’s chat about the quirks, the laughter, the heartaches, and most importantly, the lessons that have woven the fabric of my existence. Here’s to growing older, wiser, and embracing every twist in this beautiful adventure called life.

Cheers to another year of lessons and love!

26 Lessons Learned In 26 Years

Take Risks:

• Stepping out of your comfort zone often leads to the most rewarding experiences.

You definitely do grow from stepping out of your comfort zone.

Practice Mindfulness & Celebrate Your Unique Gifts:

• Each person has something special to offer the world; cherish and share yours.
• Staying mindful and fully in the moment can bring about more happiness and a clearer perspective.

Value Authenticity and be unapologetically YOU:

• Staying true to who you are forms the foundation of real connections and a satisfying life. Why surround yourself with people who don’t take you for who you are?

This was a difficult lesson for me to learn but i’m thankful that I’ve come to terms of fully allowing myself to be me and not allowing others to change that. I have learned that it is ok to wake up one day and change my career, change the way I dress and or the way my room looks. I don’t want to be surrounded by people who make me feel less than, or make me feel too much. I am who I am; take it or leave, nobody is forcing you to stay!!!

Don’t Rely Solely on One Source of Income:

• Diversify your income streams for added financial security.

The best thing I’ve done is have multiple streams of income. Even though it’s not consistent where i’d like it to be, the extra income is still beneficial in a lot of ways for me. Check out my resource vault page here for some ideas and who knows your next side hustle income!!

Learn to Say No & Set Boundaries:

• It’s okay to decline things that don’t align with your priorities.
• Knowing your limits and communicating them is crucial for healthy relationships.

Out of all 26 Lessons, this one is a tough one. Although I haven’t 100% learned this one with everyone in my life, its definitely something I’ve been implementing more. We want to say yes and help people. We want to be the person people want to be around, confide in, etc.. but we can still be all of that to someone and still say no to things as well as set boundaries. Boundaries can be respected while still being the person who says no and gets to enjoy life and creating memories with people. We do not want to be the yes man or the person who’s not fully comfortable with things for the sake of others staying around us. We also will not and should not accept disrespect in any way shape or form, no matter who it is!!! Set those boundaries and say NO more often.

Value Your Mental Health:

• It’s just as important as your physical well-being.

Seriously, treat your mental health as you would when you’re physically sick.. You can’t be 100% yourself when you’re not in the right mind space and that is ok, take the day or two to really rest and reset.

Celebrate Your Achievements, Big or Small:

• Acknowledging your successes, no matter how small, is important.

A win is a win. Celebrate all of the achievements because you worked hard, period.

Forgive Yourself for Mistakes:

• Remember, you’re only human, and making mistakes is part of the learning process.

Find Joy in Simple Pleasures:

• Often, it’s the little things that bring the most happiness.

I really started to enjoy the smallest things life can bring in general. Getting hugs from my mom everyday, listening to my friends (or family) talk about things they are passionate about even if I didn’t fully understand it.. i see their faces light up and it brings me joy. There are so many ‘little things’ to enjoy in life, find them and really feel that joy in experiencing it.

Nurture Your Passions:

• Invest time in what brings you happiness and a sense of fulfillment.

This goes for romantic and platonic relationships, career, hobbies, etc…

Stay Open to New Experiences:

• Being open-minded leads to a more enriching and fulfilling life.

This is very self explanatory. If you’re open minded, you can meet so many people that can provide you with their perspective of life and other topics and it’ll bring a whole new world for you. Learn something new everyday.

Value Alone Time:

• It’s in moments of aloneness that we often discover our truest selves.

I have spent a lot of alone time but not in the ways I have this specific year. There were more dancing and singing days alone in my room or in the car, there were more journaling days and self reflection talks with myself. It wasn’t consistent in an everyday sense but it was a whole lot more this year than in other years and It really showed me a lot about myself. Where I see myself in the overall picture and how proud I am of how far I’ve come and not really saying it enough. It’s very healing.

Learn to Let Things Go & Set Realistic Expectations:

• Holding onto the past or unnecessary baggage can weigh you down.
• Be kind to yourself and understand that perfection is unattainable.
• Acknowledging that you can’t control everything can bring serenity and ease stress.

I’ve learned to let things go and not force them. Creating unrealistic expectations for my business goals, blog goals, personal growth, mental health goals, relationship goals. I was trying to control it all in such a specific way, there is no timeline as said before. There is no way things ‘should’ be.. things are meant to be when they aren’t forced in any capacity. Work hard, enjoy life’s moments (yes even the bad ones), push through and keep on keeping on. What is meant for you will come when it’s meant to and when you’re ready for it, all in good timing.

Practice Patience:

• No worries if life isn’t going as fast as we’d like it to. Being patient lets things happen in their own time, which is totally cool!
• There is NO timeline for things. No rulebook for life that says you should have ___ by ___, that was created by society and you do not have to live by society rules or opinions at all.

Accept Imperfections in Others:

• Just as you have flaws, so do those around you. Love them for who they are.

We want to be loved just as the next person all while unapologetically being ourselves, therefore making sure you accept your loved ones flaws as well is important. Take people for who they are and love them for being exactly who they are. Being perfect is being exactly who you want to be and embracing it all.

Believe in Yourself:

• Trust in your abilities and the potential within you.

I have always struggled with believing in myself. I would seek validation, confirmation and reassurance from others for many years. I of course believe in myself in a lot of ways but a lot of it was more hope than belief. The last TWO years I learned more and more each day to believe in myself. To trust in myself. This year, I get to really say I truly believe in myself a whole lot more that I am willing to jump and take that leap of faith in my career and lifestyle wants.

Be Mindful of Credit Score: 26 Lessons

• A good credit score opens doors to better financial opportunities.

Self explanatory. Good credit score is a must for a lot of things in life, learn how to improve it, definitely something worth investing time and a bit of money for assistance on.

Save for Major Expenses in Advance:

• Planning for significant expenses like education, a home, or a car can alleviate financial stress.

I’ve learned this the hard way. Continuously buying things last minute or waiting for the last moment to buy it all at once (like the holidays) can actually do some huge damage to your bank account (and cause stress).

Take it from me… pick and choose the big purchases you’ll be making and give yourself a few paychecks to save up and pay for it instead of ‘winging’ it or impulsively buying it. Imagine impulsively buying 5 big items and now you’ve put yourself behind on bills or groceries for the week and may have to touch ‘savings’ when savings shouldn’t be touched (besides emergencies) think you catch the drift!!

Live Below Your Means:

• Avoiding unnecessary expenses allows you to save and invest for the future.

Just because you’ve got it doesn’t mean you should spend it. SAVE. INVEST.

Follow Your Heart & Soul:

• If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.
• If you hate what you do, you will never enjoy life.

I was taught ever since I was younger to find what I am truly passionate for and then make a living off that. Because if you can find something you’re passionate for, it won’t feel like a chore or like work at all and you’ll love life a lot more which is the goal at least it should be.

This year I can really say I’ve listened to my heart, mind and soul a whole lot more. I feel more joy, peace and whole. I do not want to turn back time because this version of me truly is glowing and growing.

Choose Your Battles Wisely:

• Not every disagreement requires a full-scale argument.

In relationships arguments are healthy to have, disagreements are too.. of course in a healthy amount and not obsessively or continuously happening. However, sometimes some battles aren’t always worth having and may be best to ‘lose’ said disagreement to avoid it being a full-scale argument. Like they say, some things are better left unsaid but only you can really know what will put a damper on YOUR feelings, beliefs, views and values in life as well as respect.

Do not disrespect yourself by allowing poor behavior from your partner not at all what I mean. We just have those disagreements that some of our partners may care more about the topic than we do and maybe those are the disagreements we choose to not ‘battle’ in.

Create a Budget and Stick to It:

• A budget provides a clear picture of your financial situation and helps you make informed decisions.

Self explanatory. Budgets keep you disciplined, at least for me because I felt guilty going outside of the agreed budget with myself.

Accept Compliments Gracefully:

• Believe that you are worthy of the praise you receive.

It’s always been natural for me to say ‘oh stop it, that’s all you!’ and not really accept the compliments given to me. This year I’ve learned I owe it to myself to truly accept those compliments. It doesn’t mean anything wrong, whatsoever.

Surround Yourself with Positivity:

• Seek out people, experiences, and environments that bring positivity into your life.

This comes back around to the above statement where you do not want to surround yourself in places you’re unhappy or where people won’t accept you for you.

Admit When You’re Wrong:

• Taking responsibility for your actions shows maturity and strengthens trust in romantic and platonic relationships.

Value Quality over Quantity in Relationships:

• Meaningful connections are more important than a large social circle.

It is not about how many years you’ve known someone. It’s really all about the meaningful memories and conversations you can have with someone all the while being weird, sappy, sad, confused, and quirky at the same time within the same few hours. Cherish all moments and meaningful relationships.

# 26 Lessons

Everything mentioned on this list of 26 Lessons Learned In 26 Years is really special to me. Some of these lessons are not 100% actively learned and some others were learned 1-2 years ago but were heavily implemented this year. I am just very proud of me for sticking to a lot of these and being able to go back and self reflect while writing this post, seeing how far I’ve come in such little time.

Are any of these lessons something you’ve learned over the years? Comment below, I’d love to know some of yours if we did or didn’t have mutual ones.