28 things i learned at 28
musings and reflections
This post has been collecting dust in my drafts for a while - my birthday was in October. It’s been a hectic time recently. Thanks for sticking around <3
I used to love my birthdays.
In our household, we used to celebrate birthdays like other people do Christmas morning. The night before, I couldn’t fall asleep in anticipation of the next morning, when the door would creak open, and I would awaken to the sound of birthday songs. My parents and sister would huddle next to me in bed, eat a slice of homemade cake, and lay out a spread of gifts.
When I moved out of my parental home, these traditions naturally faded away, and with it, the anticipation for my birthday. However, a sense of family and togetherness will always accompany the event, as well as that of a new start.
So now, instead of my birthday being a moment to celebrate physical gifts, I see it as a moment to reflect on the past year and consider what I’ve accomplished that year. Call it “celebrating emotional/intangible gifts”, if you will. Reminiscing on the year also reminds me that I make choices in life and have power over them (something my 21-year-old self wouldn’t have dared to believe). It prompts me to realise that I have so much abundance in terms of accomplishments and self-awareness already.
This year, I realised it would be productive to write down all the wonderful and applaudable tidbits of knowledge I’ve accumulated over the 28 years of my life. I’ve seen people doing this online, and it’s a trend that inspires and motivates me (instead of the majority of trends that drag me down). Hopefully, you will feel inspired yourself.
Without further ado, here are the 28 things/lessons I’ve learned
Invest in a handful of friends whom you actually vibe with, those who have shared interests and who you will travel for to share in the highs and lows of life.
Drink responsibly. There’s a time and place for the occasional glass of wine or “sophisticated” pub crawl, but it’s not every week.
Have a no-makeup day at least once a week.
Most people are only there for a certain period of your life. Enjoy their company while you can.
If you can, get to know your parents as people with their own lives and personalities outside of the role of “parent.”
Sometimes it’s better to just listen.
Fomo is so passé. Do the things you want to do, and don’t feel bad for missing out on the things that don’t interest you.
Dream big. Don’t hold yourself back out of fear or people telling you to be realistic.
Have dinner parties at your house.
Remove the notifications of social media apps on your phone - I quit the constant strain of social media and now enjoy it for what it’s meant to be: a source of inspiration and information.
Stop your people-pleasing tendencies. You don’t have unlimited time to please all the people, colleagues, and strangers in your dm’s. It is okay to put yourself first.
Don’t let people walk over you. React with grace, and don’t belittle yourself.
Clothes do not make a person. To quote myself: “A quality linen dress will not get me the perfect summer trip. A designer bag will not get me the confidence I crave.”
Sing in the shower.
Act on what you learn. Don’t just tell yourself you will do something.
Put money towards your savings account every month, even if it’s just $10.
Call the doctor. Do not fall down a Google-your-symptoms rabbit hole whenever you feel something is up.
There is no shame in not knowing something.
Do not (I repeat, do NOT) get a tattoo without thinking about it hard first.
Carve out time to do nothing. Weekends are great for traipsing about town with friends, but take one day a week for yourself to roam around the house or neighbourhood and discover new emotional depths.
Forgiving yourself means understanding you did the best you could.
Find hobbies that you enjoy and invest in them.
Have a hairbrush, lip balm, and sanitising wipes in your bag at all times.
Solitude does not equal loneliness. Learn to enjoy your own company and invest in solo dates and trips.
Floss. Seriously.
Read books that make you forget the page count. It’s a privilege to read, so read whatever you want.
Find healthier alternatives to habits, in whatever form that may be.
Don’t be afraid of therapy. Therapy used to scare me because I never believed my issues were large enough to take up someone’s hour. But everyone has issues. Ignoring these or dealing with them yourself doesn’t make you stronger; instead, it directly hinders your potential for greater success and happiness. And you deserve the best.
That’s all for now.
Thanks for your continued support.
x Nora
I loved this list. Wonderful reminders that people of any age can be inspired from!
WOW Loved. "Carve out time to do nothing" this is something I need to get better at