This past weekend I turned the big 26!! How these numbers keep sneaking up on me I’ll never know, I
barely feel like I’ve started my twenties yet here I am coming close to the
finishing line and verging on the oh so scary (but surely fantastic?) 3 – 0! My twenties are swiftly leaving
me behind, I’m having to consider the possibility that I might, in fact, be a…grown up…SHH, don’t say it so loud!
Feeling all reflective as one does after a birthday (or
maybe that’s just me?) I thought I’d give a shout out to the 26 things (see
what I did there?) I’ve come to learn/realize/admit to as I stand at the
starting line of my 26th year on this planet we call Earth.
1)
Time is NOT
important
There is nothing that actually
says you should be married by X age, or on the XX ladder of your career by this
exact date. Things will happen when
they’re suppose to happen. If we are so hell bent on certain things happening
by a certain age and they don’t
happen, well, that’s not going to be a fun time for anyone, especially you!
2)
Exercise is
your friend
Find a fitness activity you love
and go with it. Don’t think of it as exercise, never tell yourself it’s to lose
weight or tone up for summer, do it because it’s FUN – and just
happens to be very good for you!
3)
The word ‘diet’
should not be in your vocabulary
If you’re going to delete one
word from your life, ‘diet’ should
be it! Diet implies that you are going on some crash course celebrity endorsed ‘all
your friends are doing it’ life of hell and then some. Diets deprive you of the
foods you love, and as soon as your on one, your brain sends out little minions
to sit on the tip of your tongue, taunting you with the taste of things you’ve
told yourself you can’t have. And if you give in to temptation? Don’t even get
me started on the guilt trips those minions will send you on! Seriously, no
more diets. Learn about portion
control, moderation, and c’mon, we all know what foods are bad for us so just quit eating as much of them! Tell yourself you’re
making a ‘healthy lifestyle choice’ and those minions will bugger right off!
4)
Food is FUN
Eating food, making food, playing with food. It’s all fun – never forget
that. It’s not just there to fuel us through our day, it’s there to be enjoyed,
alone, or with friends and family. Broaden your palette, try different
cuisines, restaurants, cook something you have no idea how to cook. Have fun
with it. Never be afraid of food.
5)
Get out more
I love the internet – there, I
said it! But what’s the point of watching others life their life out online if
your not living yours? We’re all guilty of having a SacconeJoly or Judys Time
marathon, and there’s nothing wrong with that, just remember there’s a big ol
world out there and you could be doing something much more fun that sitting
there watching others go shopping in Tesco!
6)
Everyone else’s
problems are not your problems
You’ve got enough going on in
your own life without taking on the problems of others too. Be there for
others, listen and help if you can, but don’t let their problems take over your
life.
7)
Learn to
listen
One of the easiest things to do
in conversation is to talk about yourself without even realizing it. Give
others a go on the microphone and just listen.
It’s easy to jump in half way through a sentence with advice or anecdotes, but
maybe, just maybe that’s not what the
other person is looking for. Just let them talk, nod in all the right places
and let them finish, then, if needed, give your 2 pennies worth.
8)
The world is
a playground – and not the fun kind
Remember the playground drama
when you were a kid? The cliques, the bullying, the hierarchy etc? Even when
you leave school, that will never go away. College, university, the world of
work. They’re all giant playgrounds filled with cliques and bullys, name
calling and back stabbing. Just because people grow up doesn’t mean they will
act like a grown up. It’s sad but so true, some people just get worse with age.
Be the bigger person here, don’t get involved in the gossip and drama – just walk
away and go play on the swings.
9)
ASK
If you want to know something,
ask! Life’s too short to not know if that guy likes you as more than a friend,
or if your boss thinks you’d be better off in another department. If you never
ask you’ll never know, and there’s nothing worse than living without answers.
More often than not you might get an answer you didn’t expect, it could be
hurtful or heartbreaking, but at least you know the truth and can move forward
knowing all the facts.
10)
Don’t try to keep up with the Jones’
All your friends are signing
mortgage agreements, getting married, having babies, wearing purple – just because
they are doesn’t mean you should be too. Single and still living with your
parents? SO WHAT? You’ll do things
in your own time, see point #1!
11)
Be yourself
How many summers did you spend
during your school years trying to change? To be like someone else, someone who
was more popular than you? Someone you thought was more attractive than you?
Was any of that time well spent? Thought not! Here’s a secret, you are an awesome person, you are you,
there is literally nobody else in
the world like you! You’re unique, this person you are has never graced this
planet or these lives before and never will again – embrace you.
12)
The answers
are not always on the outside
Changing your image, your lifestyle,
your environment are not always the answers for problems you’ve got going on
inside you. You can externally become something different and new, but internally
you will always be the same. You’ve got to fix what’s going on inside you.
13)
Rejection isn’t
as scary as it sounds
The word no is not the worst thing someone can say to you. So you didn’t get
that new job, your submission didn’t get accepted for the publication, your
best friend doesn’t want to hang out and it turns out that guy really does just
want to be friends. It is not the end of the world, I repeat, it is NOT the end of the world. Take a
moment to be sad or angry if you must, but just a moment, then make plans and
move on because…
14)
Everything
happens for a reason
And we can’t control it. It’s out
of our hands, it is what it is and all we can do is our best with whatever
pieces are left behind. Let’s face it, some times something happens that is completely
unfair, we cry and kick and scream
till our throat is raw. But the thing, whatever it is, has still happened so we’ve
got to pick ourselves back up, have a long cold glass of water, take a deep
breath and carry on.
15)
Do something
Anything! How often do you find
yourself mindlessly staring at Facebook, Pinterest? Tumblr? Twitter *insert any
other social media here* You’re not doing it for any specific reason, you’re
just doing it and getting nothing worthwhile out of it. Don’t get me wrong,
sometimes we need that mindless downtime, but lets not make is a part of our
daily schedule! If you find yourself doing this – step away from the
computer/laptop/tablet/smart phone, and go and distract yourself with something
else. Make a cup of tea, dance around the living room, go to the library or
phone your mum.
16) Read more
I’ve always been a reader ever
since I was a tiny person but even I have to make a point sometimes of just
sitting down to read. Best sellers, old favorites, classics or a recommendation.
Just pick up a book for 30 minutes a day, it’s an easy habit to get into,
especially if you’re a commuter – you won’t believe the worlds that are opened
up to you. They say a reader lives over a thousand lives in one lifetime!
17)
Take care of
your body
It’s the only one you get, so
give it some love on the inside and out. Think of it like a car, it’s only
going to get you so far if you don’t look after it properly!
18) Make time for others
Make time for the people who are important in your life, even if it's just a quick coffee after work or an email. Pick up the phone and give them a ring, don't wait for others to make plans, make the arrangements for meet ups yourself.
19)
Check your
balance
I’ve never been money minded but
it has come to my attention that if you really do look after the pennies the
pounds look after themselves. Let’s face it, we need money for pretty much
everything in life. We need a home, food, health, and we all need to go out to
a fancy pants restaurant once in a while (we just do!). Start looking after
your bank balance, get used to putting X amount into your savings and keep a
handy rainy day fund to one side. Money is for spending and enjoying but there’s
no point in getting yourself into unnecessary debt!
20)
Follow your
heart
We’re all going to so something
or make a decision others won’t agree with. There is no point in letting that
stop you, you’ve made your choice for a reason and you’re the one who is going
to have to live with it, nobody else. If you feel so strongly and passionately about
someone or something, you’re doing yourself a injustice by not going for it
because…
21)
Your living
your life, nobody elses
Your parents can’t live your life
for you, neither can your friends. It’s great to have their support and company
along the way, but at the end of the day, you can only live the way you know
how to, and sometimes, other people just won’t get it. That’s OK, as long as you are safe, happy and
healthy, keep on doing what you’re doing.
22)
No more
tomorrows!
How many times do we say we’ll
just do it tomorrow? Be it that amazing blog post idea you just had, or emptying
the kitchen bin. Why put things off, even the mundane things? Get them done
whilst your thinking about them, other wise all of these little things just add
up and it become too much, we become so over whelmed by what we have to get
done we don’t do any of it. Stop putting things off and just do them as soon as
you think of them!
23)
Keep a
journal
It doesn’t have to be a ‘dear
diary’ and it doesn’t even have to be daily. I know people who have been trying
to fill the same journal for 10+ years! If you’ve had a great day, took a trip,
or just have something you want to remember, take a few minutes at the end of
each day to jot it down. It doesn’t have to be profound and nobody else ever
has to read it – but one day you’ll be glad you made a note of that now
forgotten memory. Speaking of memories…
24)
Take more
pictures
I don’t mean tweet pictures of
your ham salad sandwich to the world every lunch time, or flood your news page
with pictures of how oh so cute you think your kid looks covered in chocolate from
50+ angles – but take more pictures in general. Of friends, family, don’t even
ask them to pose and say cheese, just snap a random candid shot of you mum
reading, your dad washing his car, these will be priceless to you in the
future.
“…we won’t all be there this time next year so while you can take a picture of us…” – Frank Turner, Polaroid Picture
25)
Say YES more
Say yes to things you wouldn’t
normally say yes to, do something new, go someplace different. As long as it’s
legal and safe – what have you got to lose? This is how experiences are earned
and memories made.
26)
Reward
yourself
Be it a massages at the spa, a
new pair of shoes, an extra slice of cake or one more snooze on the alarm. If
you’ve worked hard for it, give yourself a pat on the back and treat yourself
to something special. What’s the point in all that hard work if you can’t
celebrate at the end of it?
Wow, that was pretty intense.
Looking back over my points, I can see exactly where in my life some of these
have come from, and how I wish I had known some sooner. But I know them now and
can move forward into my 26th year, feeling a little wiser and a
little more prepared for whatever life fancies throwing in my direction!
My dear Sarah, I have just stumbled on your blog and I hope you don't mind me saying this as I know nothing about you - but this is a great list!!
ReplyDeleteI am more than twice your age and I agree with everything on it. Hold true to your list and the next 26 years will be really rewarding.
Regards,
Cindy
How do you feel about this list now you are 2 years older? I wasn't aware of point number 1 at 26 but I am now. I will be 30 in two years no mater what I do. Whether i'm nearly qualified as an OT or whether i've jacked it in and am working a full-time job again. It will come around no matter what so I need to stop thinking about age as much and just live! xx
ReplyDeleteAmy at Amy & More
You know this is the first time I've come back and read thoroughly over this list and I can, hand on heart say, it all still rings so true. I have certainly needed a reminder about some of these things! Number one is still something that rears it's head every once in a while, especially when another friend gets married or has a baby, it's like I'm on a totally different bus to them but I'm still ok with it. Sometimes it's scary but on the whole, my life is what it is for a reason and this is exactly how things are supposed to be right now :)
DeleteSarah :)