I turned 30 a couple months ago.
Not quite as fun as turning 16, 18, or 21! You learn a lot in your first 30 years and I’m sure I’ll learn a lot more in the next 30. Anybody feel like they’ve learned TOO much and kinda wish you could go back to being naive and full of young hope? Haha! Yeah me too! I came up with a list of 30 things I’ve learned in 30 years. Some of these may resonate with you as well.
- Most things are out of our control (despite what we tell ourselves lol). Roll with it and make the best of the situation.
- Anger will pass. Be slow to react so you don’t regret what you did/said in the heat of the moment.
- It’s okay to be honest and stand up for yourself. As long as you’re calm, rationale, and polite, most people will receive it well.
- Give an animal a family and loving home. They will give you unconditional loyalty, love, and comfort in return. They are part of your life for a short time, but you are all they will know for their entire life. Give them a good one. Take them places, play, give them treats, and cuddle.
My sweet boy Gunner ♥
- Plan fun things to look forward to. They don’t need to be big week long vacations. They can be small weekend getaways, a girls’ day/night, a movie, a play, a nice dinner out, etc.
Our weekend in Winter Park
- Give compliments often, especially to your spouse and the people you love.
- Make fun memories with your kids or the special kids in your life. They will remember spending a fun day with you (like baking cookies) and look back on it fondly.
- Be supportive and encouraging. You may be the only person they will get it from.
- Smile at people. You never know what they’re dealing with.
- Get involved in groups, bible studies, or clubs. It will help you meet people that could become very good friends.
- Find something that you enjoy doing.
- Don’t be afraid to try something new. If it interests you, give it a go and if it doesn’t work out or isn’t as enjoyable as you thought, oh well! Onto something else.
I tried cookie flooding and ended up loving it!
- Be a good listener. Make eye contact, nod, and ask questions. Being heard always feels good.
- When things in life get hard, talk to a trustworthy friend or family member. When you isolate yourself and become distant, the problem and feelings can get too overwhelming.
- You’re never the only one going through something. There will always be other people struggling with the same thing.
- Treat yourself! It’s okay to get that special Starbucks drink sometimes or take a hot bubble bath for some relaxing alone time.
- Spend time with people that build you up and want what’s best for you. If you’re around people that do the opposite, you’ll start believing things about yourself that aren’t true.
If you have a spouse, you also need to be around people that want your marriage to succeed. Hearing negative remarks about your spouse will create problems and make you view your spouse negatively too. - Don’t put God in a box or into a formula. It will shake your world up when He breaks it. We will never figure God out. His thoughts are higher (and much different) than our own.
- Don’t console people with clichés or advice. When someone has experienced loss or pain they just need to know you care and are there for them. You don’t need to say much more than “I’m sorry” or “I’m here for you”.
- Be silly and laugh at yourself. One of the greatest pleasures in life is laughing until your sides hurt.
- Send sweet texts. It will make the receiver’s day.
- Do small acts of kindness for people you love. Bring your mom flowers, drop off coffee or lunch to your spouse at work, make your sibling their favorite cookies, or bring dinner to a friend having a bad week/day. You’ll feel good and they’ll feel very loved.
- Call your grandparents and send them cards. Everyone likes to get a special card in the mail for birthdays, Valentine’s, Christmas, etc. This is especially true for grandparents and they’ll love knowing you thought about them.
You can make your own cards at low cost with some pretty paper and stickers
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask questions at the doctor’s office, when you’re learning something new, at a job, anywhere! It’s better to ask and know for sure, than to guess and make mistakes that affect people.
- Follow through with your commitments. If you commit to doing something and then later change your mind, you still need to do it. Otherwise people will see you as unreliable.
- Say no to commitments if you know you can’t follow through with them. It’s better to say no upfront than to put someone in a bad position at the last minute.
- Make yourself reminders. I used to always feel like I was forgetting something. And I usually was! Now we have phones with calendars and reminders. Use them and give yourself peace of mind.
- Health is important. Take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally.
- It’s all about balance. Too much of anything isn’t good.
- Money isn’t everything, but be wise with it. Financial problems cause depression, relationship issues, stress, anger, and anxiety.
Thinking about a budgets can seem difficult, but they’re really not. And when you realize you have enough money in the bank at the end of the month, you’ll feel so good! I’ve fallen off the budget wagon many times. It’s never too late to get back on it.
These are things I’ve learned from making mistakes, going through hard struggles, and seeing other people do it right. My favorite things on this list are the ones that love on other people. I’ve been on the receiving end of some incredible people who showed me great kindness and unconditional love ❤️ It really is a key thing to remember in life.
One of my favorite versus in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
A Little Handmade Charm 