45 Life Lessons I've Gathered Along the Way
Even though reflecting on my life is something that I value, right before my birthday every year, I get a little frantic about it. How is it possible to have time pass so quickly? Have I done enough this past year? Have I accomplished enough? Is this what midlife is all about? Am I going through a midlife crisis in my own way? Am I any wiser? Instead of ruminating and spiraling, I decided my energies would be better spent drafting a list of lessons I have learned (and continue to be reminded of) that may offer insight and wisdom to others.
This exercise is not just about personal growth, but about sharing the collective wisdom that comes with the passage of time. So, as I embrace another year, I offer these 45 reflections as a gift to anyone seeking a little extra clarity and perspective in their own life.
Lead with kindness.
Life is full of contrast, learn to embrace it.
Don’t block your blessings.
Play needs to be an essential part of our everyday lives.
Making time for yourself matters.
Making time for your loved ones matters.
Everybody needs a creative outlet and a way to express themselves.
Follow the fun.
Find what nourishes you.
Be open. Be mindful. Be intentional.
Action brings clarity.
Turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks. They just have to be willing to learn.
People can actually change if they really want to. (People are a lot like dogs.)
Healing and recovery is a process.
Learning is a lifelong process and can be so fulfilling if you lean into things you love.
There are just people out there who feel more comfortable being miserable. You don’t need to spend your time convincing them otherwise. Let them be and you can still be your happy self!
Create space, pause, and breathe to be present in your life.
Seeing the world through young bright eyes (my kids, as an example) never gets old.
Protect your energy.
Rest is productive.
I need to work on my “rest ethic”. (I just learned what that was last year!)
Health, wealth, and happiness might look different as you grow and evolve.
In order to see more clearly, sometimes you just have to stumble your way through the darkness.
Prioritizing your peace fosters well being.
Your inner critic often sucks.
Everyone’s life has its highlights and heartaches.
Mundane, routine, and ordinary moments are worth appreciating.
New paths are made by walking, not waiting.
Stay focused but flexible.
Suffering is released through surrender.
Stay curious, allow yourself to expand in ways you never thought possible.
Consistency creates momentum.
“No thanks” doesn’t need to be followed by anything else.
Perhaps one of the greatest gifts and contributions a person can make to loved ones is prioritizing their own healing.
You can do hard things with ease.
The less I complain, the less I’m given to complain about.
Just because something used to work a certain way, doesn’t mean you need to continue doing it.
Be relentless in pursuing what lights you up.
Cultivating calm is a practice worth pursuing. It leads to greater inner peace and resilience.
Compassion is a gift.
Feeling at peace is better than feeling the need to control.
Wander towards wonderful
Always find the glimmers, and be grateful for all that you have and all that you don’t.
Give yourself grace.
Keep having fun.
Would love to know which of these resonates with you or if you have others you would like to share! Thanks so much for being here - whether you’re new or have been reading this blog for years. I appreciate you so much! Hoping to find out why the backlinks/photos aren’t working to the older posts around birthdays, but I thought what you could see of this post from 9 years ago was quite the gem.