I turned 25 on Christmas Day. I find joy in growing older, and have no qualms about sharing my age. Of course 25 isn’t old, so I hope I keep this mindset as the years pass. I also feel like I have so much left to learn about life, but I wanted to share some thoughts I have after my first quarter of a century on earth.
1. Act like you are leaving 15 minutes before you have to, whether you have children or just a husband. Both will make you late.
2. Marriage is hard. Make sure you love the person you choose a lot, because sometimes you are bound to not like them.
3. If you don’t have extra clothes you will need extra clothes. And diapers, a bottle, wipes- anything you don’t have you will need. Put extra everything in your vehicle.
4. Pack a snack- even if you don’t have children. Snacks make everything better.
5. People probably judge you way less than you think. They are too busy thinking about themselves.
6. It’s okay to step outside of the status quo.
7. Your parents are (usually) right.
8. It’s okay to be wrong, it’s not okay to be a bully because you are wrong.
9. No one else is responsible for your happiness.
10. Hobbies are important.
11. Life is full of lessons that teach us how to live. Be a good student.
12. Not everyone liking you is hard, but it’s reality. Not everyone likes apples, and apples did nothing but exist.
13. Learn to love yourself, you can’t exactly choose never to be around you.
14. Make time for people you love, no one is promised time on earth.
15. Mistakes happen; forgive yourself, forgive others, we are just human.
16. Trust your gut.
17. Choose your friends wisely.
18. No is a complete sentence.
19. You do not have to know what you want to do with your life right now. (This counts even if you’re not 25, but 30, 40, 53, 67, or 75. it really doesn’t matter.) Your passions will change, and that’s perfect.
20. Voting really is important.
21. It’s almost always more about the journey than the destination.
22. It’s fine to never “know” the meaning of life in a way that can be summed up in an eloquent philosophical sentence. Your life is not inhibited in anyway because of it.
23. Trying something new is always a good idea.
24. Second chances are important, but so is protecting yourself, your interests, and your time. Discern who deserves them for yourself.
25. Prayer is important.
