I recently turned 40 and wanted to share some wisdom I have learned along the way.
Life has been a mix of triumphs, stumbles, detours, and lessons, each shaping who I am today. Some of these truths came from personal experience, others from observing the world around me, and a few from those wiser souls who shared their wisdom along the way.
So here’s my gift to you: 40 lessons I’ve gathered in my 40 years. Some are practical, others philosophical, and a few that will hopefully make you stop and think. Let’s dive in.
1. Love yourself immensely first, and good things will follow.
2. When it feels like everything is going wrong in your life, big changes are often coming, and you will grow for the better. Try to enjoy the process.
3. Respect yourself. You are worthy of beautiful things.
4. Try to find gratitude in the mundane. Chores and to-do lists will forever be entwined in your life as long as you are breathing—it’s inevitable.
5. Sleep is crucial for your well-being. Don’t try to cut corners on giving your mind and body rest.
6. Have compassion for others. Behind every closed door is a story you know nothing about.
7. Hold tight to wonderful friendships and work hard at the ones worth keeping around. You don’t need a ton of friends; you just need a few that you can truly count on.
8. Learn to say you’re sorry.
9. Life moves fast; live a remarkable life you are proud of.
10. Choose your people wisely. The friends you have matter a lot. Also, know that not every relationship is meant to move forward with you. Some people are meant for a season. It’s important to find peace with that.
11. Stop waiting for people to be something they’re not. Try your best not to hold others to your standards. You have to meet people where they are at.
12. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water a day. One full cup when you first wake up.
13. Always appreciate the good in your life, but when things go wrong, be open to the lessons you are meant to learn.
14. Let go of thoughts that don’t serve you well. You don’t have to believe everything you think.
15. Always choose to forgive. If not for others, for yourself. A life of forgiveness will put your mind at ease.
16. Get rid of things that don’t bring you joy. Clutter takes up mental space.
17. When you feel sad in your life, write about it. Journaling helps you to process things.
18. Always pay yourself first. Yes, you can still enjoy your fancy latte or cocktail but put money away for your future first. Learn about the power of compound interest. Your future self will thank you.
19. Read more nonfiction books. It gives you the chance to soak up knowledge that may have taken someone else years to learn.
20. Knowledge is power; once you have it, don’t keep it to yourself.
21. Wear sunscreen. 1 in 5 people will get skin cancer. Go to the dermatologist for a full body scan of your skin once a year. It can save your life.
22. Take ownership of your life. We don’t always like the hand we are dealt, but there is always something we can do about it.
23. If you don’t like your job, plan an exit strategy. We spend an average of 1/3 of our life at work. Life is too short. Find a way to love what you do.
24. People treat you how you allow them to treat you. Remember, you are worthy of quality relationships.
25. Your habits will make your life easier or create more hardships. Choose wisely.
26. Get serious about your goals; no one will care about your dreams as much as you do.
27. Strength train to keep your body strong, stretch to stay limber. Move your body every single day.
28. Keep your life moving forward. Maybe you rest, take a baby step, or do a side shuffle, but whatever you do, keep going. Time waits for no one.
29. Don’t always think of failure as a bad thing. There are lessons in every outcome. Seek them out first before you try to convince yourself you have failed.
30. Be of service to others. Give a smile, hold a door open—every little thing matters.
31. Find a higher power to believe in. Maybe it’s God or the Universe. It’s whatever speaks to your soul and makes you want to be a better human.
32. Don’t try to keep up with every fashion trend. Instead, choose a few things that bring you joy and invest the rest of your money.
33. Treat your significant other with respect and be a good listener.
34. Find a way to enjoy the process throughout life’s trials and tribulations. The journey will bring you to amazing places.
35. Put your blinders on and stop looking around so much. Social media can suck the life out of you and make you believe you are falling behind. Always know you are on your own path. Comparing yourself to anyone outside of yourself will always lead you down the wrong road.
36. If you plan to start or have a family, know that the process looks different for everyone. It can happen right away or can be a long road ahead. Get the support and help your mental health needs.
37. Spend time with your grandparents if they are still alive, they can teach you a lot about what really matters in life.
38. Learn to focus on your breath. Breathe in longer, breathe out longer. It will help you relax and center yourself.
39. Face your health problems head-on and be an advocate for yourself. No one is coming to dig you out of the trenches. Get your doctors and plan in place, and give your body the attention it deserves.
40. Enjoy getting older; it’s a privilege not everyone will have.
I hope you enjoyed this list. Let me know if there are any lessons you specifically found helpful.
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Xo,
Tiffany
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