32 Life Lessons Learned This Year

Yesterday was my 32nd birthday! Woohoo! All I keep thinking is how did I get to be this age? There are so many days when I don’t feel a day over 18, and I’m not sure where my three little kids came from. Other days, my body, the bags under my eyes, and the constant flow of bills appearing remind me that I truly am grown-up.

With that said, I am loving my 30s thus far. I’m old enough to know better, young enough to not care, am finally starting to be established financially and mentally, and have the confidence I was lacking during my 20’s. Bring on the 30’s…They rock!

Also? These people make this the most fun decade, truly. Despite feeling drained at the end of the day most days, I know there will probably not be another time in my life when I feel so loved! My hands are full, but so is my heart.

I’ve learned many new things this year, but mostly I’ve been reflecting on the ultimate life lesson: Life is short, so try your best, and show you care to those you love.

Here are a few of the other nuggets of wisdom I’ve gained/re-learned this year:

1. Dance like nobody is watching. Literally. If you feel the music, MOVE. It’s the ultimate compliment to whomever is making it!
2. Some things are worth the extra cost. Healthy food is one of them. Take care of your body; don’t treat it like a dumpster.
3. You just need just a few close friends to feel complete, but having a lot of acquaintances is great when life gets crazy. You’re never too old for new friends!
4. Faith and religion is different for everyone. Keep *your* faith because it works well for you.
5. Family is number one. Even if it’s a distant relative, be there if they need you.
6. Despite being relatively extrovert, I love being alone, and need time to myself daily.
7. With age, I’ve gained more patience. Thank God because it has been rough with having little people around me at all times these past few years.
8. A clean house = happiness. Maintain, but don’t be afraid to leave the mess if you’re needed elsewhere.
9. Instilling kindness in your kids is the best legacy you can leave behind.
10. Make time to read daily…It makes you feel smarter.
11. Workout more, would ya? You never regret it!
12. Dogs may make life sweeter, but are you for real? Stop looking at Petfinder. You can barely take care of your kids and two fish. Your ‘dog season’ of life will come — but it’s not now.
13. Hugs heal. Hug more, and follow the 20-second hug rule to help during stressful days.
14. Spend money on adventures and good food…that’s what makes you happiest.
15. Never stop advocating for your kids. That little voice inside you knows what it’s talking about.
16. Shots always seem like a good idea, but life is just too busy to be hungover. During a night out, drink water and go to bed early.
17. Silence is not golden when it comes to kids.
18. Invest in good people. Preferably those who openly love good craft beer and coffee 😉
19. Never stop trying to be a great spouse, even when life gets hectic. A happy marriage = happy kids.
20. Quit feeling guilt for saying no and not answering every email.
21. Always be kind to everyone including waiters/waitresses and the grocery clerk…Karma is real.
22. Do something every week that makes you feel a bit uncomfortable {in a positive way}.
23. You may not always have the budget to shower people with gifts; use your talents instead — a nice letter, babysitting services, etc. Acts of service is your love language; embrace it!
24. Don’t over schedule. Days off from chaos are so crucial for your mental health.
25. Quality over quantity for everything in life; possessions, friends, and even blog traffic.
26. Keep taking photos and recording life. The memories you make are so incredibly fun to look back on.
27. Surround yourself with positive people and you will continue to be positive, too.
28. Take advantage of travel opportunities. This is a tough phase of life with little ones, but your time is coming. In the meantime, remember just traveling an hour away can feel like a vacation.
29. When it comes to politics, have an open mind, listen to the other side, and draw your own conclusions. And remember nothing good comes from passive aggressive comments online, so no sense in engaging.
30. Tell your children how much you adore them daily. And cuddle them whether they like it or not! Seeing their face light up fills them and you, too.
31. Talk to strangers. Sometimes they share the best nuggets wisdom.
32. A bad day is just a bad day. It doesn’t mean a bad life. Dust yourself off and try again tomorrow.

It truly has been a fabulous year, and I feel incredibly blessed to have carved out such an amazing life. Grateful for every breath I take and smile I get from my kids, my husband, and even strangers.

Cheers to another amazing year ahead!

What life lessons has the past year taught you?