Life Advice I Wish Someone Told Me
This weekend, my twenty-three-year-old cousin asked me for advice about what to do after she graduates from university. My first thought was – “Here’s a list of things you SHOULDN’T DO,” and secondly, “Wow, she trusts me enough to give her some solid life advice.” It reminded me of what my mentors had told me when I was 23.
Slow down
You don’t have to pursue what you studied
No one really cares about you as much as you think they care (this was harsh at the time, but makes so much sense now, Dad)
Truthfully, I didn’t listen. I was too busy caring about what everyone else was doing, which turned to burnout, which then turned into wheels of self-doubt, anxiety, and the works. If there’s one thing I wish someone had told me when I was 23, it would have been to master the art of being present. I’m learning this in my 30’s.
BECAUSE LIFE’S A LONG MARATHON, NOT A RACE.
Sometimes we need a little reminder to let us know that our fears, insecurities, and thoughts on life are exactly the same as the person sitting across you or beside you. So take life advice and lessons from their book and remember that you’re not alone. Here are a couple of wise words from those who have been there, done that.
LIFE ADVICE I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME:
IN MY 20’S
Prioritize your spending on experiences, not objects ? : This is the one piece of advice I gave my younger cousin. See the world, see it often, and see it with loved ones.
Some answers come with time, some don’t come at all, and life still goes on.
Life doesn’t end at thirty: HAH! I wish someone had told me this. It’s probably one of those things you learn when you get there.
You think you know, but you don’t know everything about love: “I thought I knew everything about love and relationships in my 20s. The ignorance of youth is bliss. As you get older, you start to realize that you don’t really know anything and life is a great traveling journey. Life is unexpected … you just never know what’s going to happen.” Thanks, Reese Witherspoon!
IN MY 30’S
Cooking is an invaluable life skill ? : It takes practice, but it’s a game-changer knowing what we’re putting into our bodies.
Friendships drift: “Friendships naturally evolve and change as you get older, due to a variety of circumstances. Couples tend to gravitate toward other couples just as singles gravitate toward other singles. Those with babies make new friends in their baby groups and no longer have as much time for those who don’t have children.”
Let go of timelines, people, and things that no longer serve you: Timelines are outdated. Life’s all about finding what works for you. It always has been, and it always will be.
Career changes are POSSIBLE: Read this story about Anna, a woman whose native language wasn’t English, she wasn’t fresh out of university and also had a baby to look after. Despite this, she carved out a successful career in law in her 30’s.
BEFORE THEY TURNED 50
Our parents are aging – Parents age, and sometimes it’s hard seeing that. Stay compassionate.
It is better to be alone than it is to keep wishing that you were: “Other people sought relationships because they didn’t want to be alone, but I kept getting into relationships and regretted NOT being alone anymore. I wish I had learned confidence in myself earlier, it would have saved me a lot of heartaches.”
Be careful with advice — even good life advice: “A better way to think about advice is to try to understand what happened to the person who is giving it.”