Gingnuggie

Aloha!

I wish I could say there was something magical that happened the day I turned 30, but I think those changes came a little before then. The day I entered a new decade (a few weeks ago), I spent the week in Hawaii with some of my closest friends that I met within my first few years of college. These are women who have seen me through my darkest days, celebrated me on my brightest and everything in between. I’ll share some of our experiences from this trip in a later post, but for now, here are some of the things my 20s taught me.

1. Your 20s are for growing, learning and experiencing, not for having everything figured out. We’re constantly meeting new versions of ourselves, making mistakes and trying new things.
2. Confidence doesn’t come from age, it comes from experience.
3. It’s perfectly normal to outgrow people, places, jobs and mindsets. Growth is uncomfortable, but it requires change. Don’t be afraid to shed your layers.
4. Learn how to trust yourself. Your intuition is usually never wrong.
5. Not everyone will like you, and that’s okay. When you’re authentically yourself some people will hate that about you. Some because you exude qualities they wish they had, some simply because you’re not their cup of tea. Learn to accept that and move on.
6. The right people will respect your boundaries and won’t try to manipulate you. They’ll see where you’re coming from, or try to, and your relationships with these people will flourish.
7. Exercise because you want to feel good, not because you want to look good. When you’re taking care of yourself for the right reasons, you’ll feel so much better and it doesn’t feel like a chore.
8. Happiness comes from within, not external achievements. No amount of material things or plaques on the wall will truly make you happy. Those who get it, get it.
9. Letting go brings you peace. Feel it, sit in it, process it, move on. Not everything needs closure or explaination.
10. It’s never too early to learn how to be responsible with your money or save it. Your future self will thank you.
11. Time is invaluable, you cannot get it back. Spend it wisely.
12. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health!! I cannot stress that enough.
13. You will lose friends and shed versions of yourself as time goes on. The ones who are meant to stay will stay, the ones who leave usually leave a lesson.
14. The first time you experience a close loss, it will change you. Change your perspective, change your priorities, change the way you think.
15. You don’t have to have your life figured out at 18. 22. 25. 30. We are constantly evolving, and you never know when you will find what you are truly meant for. It doesn’t mean you’re behind or don’t have a purpose, you just haven’t found it yet.
16. Travel. It’s okay to stay in your hometown, but get out and experience the world around us. It’s filled with beauty, history, culture and great food. Be respectful of the new places you visit and people you encounter. Be curious.
17. Take pictures! Not just for social media, but for the memories. One day it’s all you have left. It’s possible to live in the moment and capture it as well.
18. Have hobbies and read. It’s so fun to explore different worlds in literature, fiction or non. Take up gardening, learn to sew, anything. Don’t let these things become lost.
19. Stay open-minded. Not everyone will have the same opinions as you on things, and that’s okay. That’s what makes conversation fun. You can agree to disagree, but listen to what people have to say. They might surprise you and teach you something.
20. Spend time outside, but wear your sunscreen! The fresh air, ground beneath your feet, sun on your skin, sounds of nature are healing and calming. We live in a beautiful place.
21. Make time for your friends and family! You’ll never regret time spent with people who you cherish.
22. Don’t lose yourself in a relationship with someone. The right person will never make you feel small, hold you back from your passions or friends, nor will they make you ask for permission to live your life. It’s incredibly healthy to stay your own people while becoming one.

I’m not going to do a “30 things I learned before 30” because I can’t narrow it down and honestly, I can’t think of 30 things. The creator of the universe, whoever or whatever you believe it to be, didn’t create this beautiful world or give us life for us to spend it mundanely. That word is subjective in my opinion.

I hope you’re able to take something away from this and live your life to its fullest potential. As Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus once said, “Life’s what you make it, so let’s make it rock.” Cheesy, I know 😉