Birthdays are strange.
On one hand, you are celebrating another year of life, full of experiences, bumps in the road and small wins. On the other, you’re reminded there is one less year in the bank.
A birthday is both cause for celebration and reflection: a time to honor the journey so far while quietly mourning the years gone by, feeling nostalgia for what’s past and uncertainty for what’s ahead.
Turning 25 feels like the first time I can look back and see a real stretch of road behind me: detours, wrong turns, and a few beautiful shortcuts I never expected.
So here are 25 lessons (in no particular order), some learned the hard way, some still in progress, that have shaped who I am today and keep me grounded when times get hard. I hope you find them as useful as I have.
1. The days are long but the years are short.
Make the most of every day without losing track of the bigger picture. Life may pass you by more quickly than you think.
2. Most of what you fear never happens.
Anxiety makes shadows look like monsters. Fear is often just bad imagination so don’t let it eat you up.
3. Doing the hard thing first makes the rest easier.
I’ve learned to tackle the dreaded task before the easy ones (especially in the mornings). You may dread it, but once it’s done, the day feels lighter.
4. The people you admire are just people, talk to them.
Most people are more approachable than you think, especially if you’re authentic in why you want to connect with them.
5. Attention is the most valuable thing you can give someone.
In a world full of distractions, giving your full attention to someone is the simplest way to make them feel valued.
6. Use money on experiences or time-savers.
Buying physical stuff (although sometimes needed and enjoyable) is the least impactful bang for your buck. Rather, use it to gain time (the most valuable currency) or to live and enjoy life.
7. The faster you own a mistake, the faster it stops owning you.
Defensiveness drags out the pain. Owning up quickly shortens the story and earns respect.
8. Exercise is the cheapest form of therapy.
It’s not about building muscles or losing fat, it’s about clarity. There’s nothing like starting or ending your day with a run or gym session.
9. Good friends make life richer than any paycheck.
True wealth is measured in relationships. Never forget to foster and nurture them, especially now that we are more connected than ever.
10. Consistency beats intensity.
It’s all about the marathon not the sprint. Life’s overarching goals are not accomplished in a week or even a month. Life rewards habits not sudden bursts of motivation.
11. Always put things into perspective.
A bad day at work isn’t the end of the world, and one mistake rarely defines you. Stepping back to see the bigger picture turns most problems from mountains into speed bumps.
12. Opportunities rarely announce themselves.
Sometimes they come disguised as a setback or a bump in the road. The trick is learning to spot the potential before it’s obvious.
13. Good enough is usually good enough.
For most things in life, finishing is often better than perfecting. Perfectionism is just fear in fancy clothes.
14. Ten year plan? Think again.
Planning is good, but overplanning can paralyze you. The next right move is often enough to keep the story moving.
15. Sleep is key.
Prioritizing good sleep is essential to having good days. It’s not just about the hours you sleep but the quality of your sleep as well.
16. Gratitude is a muscle, use it daily.
It’s easy to notice what’s missing, but training your brain to spot the good in your life changes everything. Gratitude makes even ordinary days feel rich.
17. Your mental diet is as important as your physical one.
What you consume: books, news, conversations, shapes your mind. Guard it like you guard your body.
18. Jealousy stems from an incomplete picture.
Whenever you get jealous, remember you are usually just looking at a small fraction of someone’s life. You may never get to see the complete picture and what their life is really like.
19. The right person makes love feel calm, not chaotic.
Movies sell drama, but real love feels safe. You can breathe deeper and be yourself around the right person.
20. Most limits are self-imposed.
Half the things I thought I couldn’t do were just things I hadn’t tried or didn’t know how to do. So learn, practice and try again.
21. Talk less about what you’ll do, more about what you’re doing.
Action is quieter in volume but louder in impact. Let results be the announcement.
22. Smile more.
You’ll be surprised at just how powerful a smile is. Whether you need a small morale boost, you want to show commitment or you’re simply enjoying life, remember to smile.
23. Saying “no” is liberating.
Life is too short to be spending your time doing things you don’t want or need to do. Being strategic with your no’s can better position yourself for the future.
24. You are not behind, you’re on your own path.
Comparison is the fastest way to rob yourself of peace. Life is not a race with a shared finish line so focus on your own lane.
25. Start before you feel ready.
The day when you “feel ready” is never coming. Confidence comes after action, not before. Begin now, figure it out along the way.
Looking ahead, I know the next 25 years will bring their own detours, wrong turns, and unexpected shortcuts. I don’t expect to have all the answers, but I’ve learned that I don’t need them to keep moving. What matters is staying curious, showing up, and making the most of the time I’m given.
If the first quarter of my life was the prologue, then here’s to writing the next chapters with a little more courage, a little more patience, and a lot more gratitude. Thank you!
Amaizing thinking for someone so young.
Wow. This is extremely powerful article. In my opinion the best one I have seen you write. And your learnings are all applicable to most people and a great advise. Thanks for sharing and I hope many people benefit from this. I am proud of you for your life and thankful to God for letting me be part of your life. You are really special and great.