40 Lessons from 40 Years

Sep 13

Friday, September 13, 2024 was my 40th Birthday! Here are 40 Lessons Learned from 40 Years of Living that I wrote for myself and wanted to share:

Choose love over fear and do things that bring you joy. Connect with your inner child and sense of wonder.
Laughter is the best medicine. Allow yourself to be silly.
The most important relationship you will ever have is with yourself. Get to know yourself and make choices that align with your values. Be authentic.
Learn to listen to your body and what your emotions are trying to tell you. If we don't hear the whispers they will turn into screams.
When you bury feelings, you bury them alive (and they will come back). Our issues are in our tissues and feelings that haven't been metabolized are stored inside of us.
Have compassion for people who have done things you consider “bad.” We don't know the full story or what they have been through in life. Hurt people hurt people.
If your compassion does not include yourself it is incomplete.
Accept yourself exactly as you are. Accept others exactly as they are.
Learn what is outside of your control and then don't worry about those things, including what other people think of you.
You cannot change people or fix their problems.
Listen to people. Just sit with them and try not to offer solutions or resources unless they ask for them.
You can control your thoughts and reactions and how you spend your time and money.
Vulnerability is a superpower. Sharing our stories is a powerful way to connect and let others know they are not alone.
Nature is perfect, heals, and connects us to the divine. Watching sunrise, sunset, waterfalls, and the ocean are a few ways for me to feel connected to everything.
Movement is medicine; find movement you enjoy. Don't make exercise a punishment or something you force yourself to do.
Expectations are premeditated disappointments.
Beauty is everywhere; slow down to see it.
Rest is necessary.
Presence is a gift. We never know how much time we have left.
Time and space cannot break the bond of soul family.
Go on adventures while you can.
Start saving money early if you can, even if it doesn't seem like much.
Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes - trust me, you don't want sunburned eyeballs.
Wear earplugs around loud things - who cares if someone calls you pumpkin ears!
Being outside with sun on your skin in moderation is a great way to get vitamin D.
Helping others feeds your soul. Give more than you take but fill your cup first.
Boundaries are important.
It's okay to say no. You don't have to be in charge of everything.
Time spent with a cat (or other pet) on a lap is never wasted.
Especially if you are hiking alone, tell someone where you are going.
Drink enough water - we want grape brain, not raisin brain!
Eat fruit and vegetables and food that nourishes you.
If you find yourself obsessing over food or struggling with disordered eating, talk to a therapist. If you are overeating are you attempting to stuff feelings that need to be expressed?
Don't talk about or comment on other people's bodies, even if it's a compliment.
Believe people when they tell you their experience.
Don't dismiss or minimize feelings you don't understand. Affirming other people’s feelings doesn't invalidate yours.
Create more than you consume and be aware of what you consume. You choose what you feed your brain.
Visualize what you want and how you want to feel. The hardest part about manifesting your desires is getting really clear about what you want. What you think about expands.
Be kind to everyone, always.
Surround yourself with people who inspire you.