20 Things I Learned in my 20s

I have to be honest, my 20s looked nothing like I expected. If you had asked me or my parents about my future when I was in high school, we likely would have guessed I would get married around 30 because my goal was to become independently successful and then get married and have a family. Well, I got married at 21- straight out of college. And looking back, it worked out just the way it should have for me.

Over the past {almost} 30 years, I’ve learned so much about myself and what’s important. Here are 20 things I learned in my 20s.

1. Prioritize yourself :: You know on airplanes how the flight attendants tell you to put your mask on first before you take care of those around you? Well I’ve come to realize life is similar. Sometimes you have to prioritize yourself and make sure your needs are taken care of before you can take care of others. You can’t pour water out of an empty glass. Take time to fill up your own glass!
2. Be selective :: It’s important to be selective about what and who you let into your life. Make sure the people you surround yourself with help bring out the best version of you. If they don’t build you up, cut them out or at the very least limit the time you give to them. Same goes for how you spend your time. Life is too short to waste time on things that don’t matter.
3. Make time for ‘whimsy’ :: I love making plans and living my a schedule. I function better when I have some type of schedule. However, I’ve learned the best moments are usually unplanned. So it’s important to make time or leave extra time for those little whims and surprises.
4. Trust your instinct :: I’ve learned to really listen to my instincts over the years. 9 times out of 10, my intuition leads me in the correct direction.
5. You find what you look for :: Growing up my dad taught me a quote by Charles Swindoll- “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” And he is right. You don’t always get to choose your circumstances, but you do get to choose your attitude. And choosing to be joyful and choosing to look for the good will ALWAYS make things better. If you look for the good in a situation/person, you will find it. If you look for the bad in a sitation/person, you will find it.

6. Continue learning :: Read, listen to podcasts, & surround yourself with others who are doing the same.
7. How someone treats you is a direct reflection of how they feel about themselves :: You can learn a lot about a person based on how they treat others. Over the years I’ve learned how someone treats you says more about their personality {and possibly insecurities} than it does about your own. Take everything as a grain of salt and recognize that those who are hardest to love, often need the most love. Don’t let someone else’s issues bring you down.
8. Traveling is always a good idea :: Traveling has helped shape who I am as an individual in the best ways possible. It has helped teach me to be flexible, to change my perspective and so, so much more.
9. The most important things in life are not things, they are people :: Cliché, I know. But I’ve learned how important it is to prioritize people and relationships over possessions. Invest in quality friendships & spend time with loved ones.
10. Ask for what you want :: Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. The worst they can do is say no. So many doors have been opened to me purely because I had the courage to ask!

11. Forgive quickly :: Grudges and anger hurt you more than they do the other person. Forgive quickly and move on. But remember- just because you’ve chosen to forgive and move on, does not mean you need to forget. Learn and move forward.
12. Find what brings you joy :: My girl friend Mallory did a podcast where she discusses what makes a day a “good day.” If you were to make a list of 4 things that have to happen for a day to be good, what would they be? Then find a way to incorporate them into every day as best you can! Do little things every day that bring you joy!
13. Spend time in the Word :: As someone who grew up in a Christian home, this was kind of a duh. But it’s so much easier said than done. Life happens and distractions come our way. But I’m am such a better wife, mother and person when I spend time in the Word. And some days I have to give myself grace and know that simply listening to worship music & spending time in prayer is enough.
14. Happiness is an emotion, joy is a choice :: You might not always be happy, but you can always choose to be joyful. I’m still working on this one.
15. Save money and invest wisely :: When I graduated college my parents had me go through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. It taught me so many important lessons about money. To this day, the only debt I have is our home mortgage and we are working our way to pay that off ASAP. Don’t spend money you don’t have!

16. It’s okay to not be okay, it’s not okay to stay there :: Matt Chandler said that in a sermon I heard in high school and it has stuck with me. I’ve come to learn that everyone will have highs and lows. And it’s okay to be in a season of lows. But it’s not okay to stay there. Make sure you surround yourself with people and things that lift you up.
17. Take care of your body :: You only get one body. Make sure you are feeding yourself nutritiously and using products that are quality.
18. Be nicer than you feel :: You never know what kind of day others are having. Give away smiles and compliments as often as you can! Be the reason someone smiles today. Not only is it nice, it makes you feel good too!
19. Get outside of your comfort zone :: Be adventurous and try something new whenever you have the opportunity! Do something the scares you! Try a new food, visit a new place, say yes to something you normally would say no to. You’ll be surprised how much you’ll learn about yourself and possibly even find something new you love!
20. Embrace your inner child :: I love growing up and am so thankful for the opportunity to grow older. But I never want to lose sight of the child within me. After having Cayson I’ve been reminded how magical the world is when you look at it through the eyes of a child. He sees the world with so much opportunity, so much joy & he doesn’t take anything too seriously. Remember to embrace your silly side & look for the magic in each day.

sweater old, similar here & here :: jeans :: shoes :: necklace :: sunglasses