33 Pieces of Wisdom at 33 Years Old
- Skepticism can rob you of joy. Practice balancing caution with spontaneity.
- Journaling, creative writing, list making is cathartic.
- Enjoy the beauty and chaos of rainstorms.
- Friendships are sustainable gems. Collect them and protect them like Infinity Stones. (love me a Marvel reference)
- Create because you want to.
- Maintain your character when no one is watching.
- Challenge yourself to smile more.
- Water is your friend. Nourish your body and mind. Dehydration is never in style.
- Seek out people with similar passions and embrace mentorships, guides, and allies.
- Do not dismiss someone based on their views. Modern politics has colored this world destructive. Push past differences to have healthy, respectful conversations.
- If you cook with citrus, be careful. There is a fine line between flavor and nausea-inducing amounts. (in reference to my lemon vs. chicken patty incident of yesteryear)
- Go grocery shopping for the immediate meals you know you will make. It is too easy to waste food.
- If you order food out, always check your order is correct before you leave to avoid a hangry disappointment at home.
- Dating red flag: Your date yelling at the server in a restaurant. Your server is often simply the middle-person. Do not be an asshole.
- Trauma is real. Seek help for yourself when you are ready and know that you cannot fix someone else.
- Read for fun. (novels, research articles, comic books, smutty magazines, newspaper, etc)
- Practice breathing techniques while driving/stuck in traffic.
- Dance.
- Enjoy technology-free time. (back to basics/old school living)
- Give advice only when asked.
- Realize that people do not have the same background/education/privileges as you.
- Give back. (your time, money, resources, knowledge...)
- Support the arts. (Think of how bland life would be with the absence of art)
- Write positive reviews. Let someone know they did a good job. (We praise children when they are young but somehow tend to be less forgiving and more judgmental as adults)
- Keep extra toiletries at work. It is good for when you forget to put on deodorant or need a tampon or ibuprofen. You can also be a superhero for a coworker having a rough day.
- Leave a notebook by your bed for late-night inspiration.
- Have conversations to normalize death. Make a will/write down your wishes. You never know what the day will hold.
- Do not go shopping on Amazon when buzzed or emotional. (No, you do not "deserve" a new purse because your landlord is a jerk, your boyfriend broke up with you, and someone hit your car)
- Learn to play a new game. You will feel empowered to learn something new and you might discover something new about yourself, like which of your friends you would eat first as a cannibal...
- Do not berate yourself for downtime or "cheat days." Life is full of ebbs and flows. You are not meant to punish yourself. Practice living realistically. Enjoy the slow moments and that piece of cake, damnit!
- You do not have to be flexible to do yoga. You do not have to be in the best shape of your life to wear a swimsuit to the beach. You do not have to compare yourself to bullshit.
- Listen to your body. Your intuition is there for a reason.
- Family is not determined by blood alone. Surround yourself with people who support you, make you laugh, and let you be yourself. Authentic relationships mean the difference between being alone and feeling lonely.