Age 24: What I've Learned

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I turn 25 years old tomorrow (June 20th) and while that quarter-of-a-century number should sound scary I’m actually cool with it. I’ve already had my quarter life crisis so I’m really ahead of the game over here ;) In fact, it was exactly one year ago on my 24th birthday that my crisis began. I’ll never forget it. I was out celebrating the bachelorette party for my first friend to get engaged and kept thinking about how I wasn’t sure if I was with the person I was going to marry, which in my head was magnified into “what on Earth am I doing with my life?” The first six months of being 24 were really, incredibly hard. There was a lot of loss; some good relationships, some bad ones, some old and some new, my childhood dog, and even a job. The second half of being 24 has been nothing short of wonderful (btw I kind of love that my birthday is almost exactly halfway through the year which means that January 1st, 2016 marks not only the day I moved to Florida, but also about halfway through age 24)! These past 6 months I’ve experienced a lot of growth, had some unexpected and amazing opportunities come my way, and made friends that I am truly thankful for. Needless to say it’s been quite the year! Here are a few things I’ve learned as a 24-year-old that I know I will take with me for the rest of my life.

• Wait with expectancy.
• Seasons of life are a real thing. Live each one so that when you look back on any of them you’ll be nostalgic.
• On that note, have a season of your life where you spend a lot of time alone. It will give you a new perspective on the world, teach you a whole lot about yourself, and make you stronger and more confident than you even knew you could be.
• Be conscious of what things make you feel crappy. Cut them out of your life if possible.
• Everything is fleeting. Don’t plan for the future too intensely, don’t take for granted the present, and don’t get too down when things aren’t going your way. It’s all temporary.
• No one likes to be pitied.
• People know when they’re being pitied.
• Sunshine, fresh air, nature, and meditation is the prescription for peace.
• Have a friend that you can talk to about anything, have a friend that makes you laugh, have a friend that makes you forget to think too much, have a friend you can explore with, but don’t expect all of them to be everything. They each have a different purpose in your life.
• Have great friends, but leave room for independence.
• Stop beating yourself up for analyzing your own thoughts and emotions. Some of the organically successful people seem to be the most introspective.
• Continue to believe in love.

xx

Photos : Stills by Hernan