WEARING: Rebecca Minkoff Karis Dress | Jeffrey Campbell Shoes (Similar Here, Here, & Here) | BaubleBar Crystal Heart Earrings
Hi friends! Today, I’m celebrating my 30th birthday. (I’m still in shock😱, but so excited to see what this next decade has in store.) My twenties were filled with change, excitement, adventure, and so many beautiful experiences. Below I’m sharing 30 Life Lessons That I’ve Learned by age 30. I hope you enjoy reading them! ✨
1. It’s Okay to Say No
Sometimes you won’t be able to do it all, or sometimes you’ll want to stay home with some beef fried rice🥡 and Sex & The City reruns. And you know what…that’s entirely okay.
2. Life is Better When You’re Laughing
Laugh, and do it often. Find joy in every moment of each day, because each new day on this earth is such a beautiful blessing.
3. Live Well
Whether living well means taking that morning yoga class, starting your day with your favorite hot tea or coffee, or carving out 30 min. of your day for a bubble bath🛀🏻. Self-care is so important and it’s something I’ve been striving for more and more these past few years.
4. Travel as Much as Possible
Traveling is one of the most eye opening and enriching experiences out there.✈️ It opens you up to new worlds, cultures, and experiences. I’m so thankful for all of the amazing places I’ve been able to see so far, and I can’t wait to experience more.
5. Eat the Croissant 🥐
(and do the yoga later – namaste)
6. Don’t Be Afraid to Try New Things
Sometimes your friends will take you out to that cool Korean spot downtown, and sometimes they’ll tell you to try that crazy looking thing on the menu.🥢 DO IT! If you love it, you’ll find a new favorite food and if you hate it, you’ll have a great story to tell!
7. Experience Life in a Big City🗽
My life forever changed when I moved to New York City right before my 26th birthday. I completely found myself and grew in ways I never thought I would. I left NYC a completely different person, and will remain forever grateful for all of the beautiful lessons I learned during my time there.❤️
8. Find Peace in Being Alone
It’s okay to not always have someone, and it’s okay to be alone. Our relationships should never define us, they should only add to and enrich our lives that much more. The times that I haven’t had a relationship, and the quieter moments of my life were filled with opportunities to better myself, find what made me happy, and form new dreams and goals for my life. There’s beauty in being alone, and you should never let anyone tell you otherwise. ✨
9. Always Moisturize
Thank you mom for starting me on a skincare routine when I was in high school! You’re 100% the reason why I still get carded everywhere I go.☺️
10. Don’t Take Life Too Seriously
At the end of the day, everyone is so focused on their own life and what’s going on with them that they might not even notice you’ve worn the same outfit twice in one week. 😂
11. Family is Everything
I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for my incredible family. Your family is your ultimate support system, and they will love you unconditionally, be your biggest cheerleaders, and want the best for you always.
12. Do What Makes You Happy
Life is too short, so do more of what makes your heart happy, and find the things that bring joy to your soul.
13. Live in the Moment
Put that phone down honeyyyy, and enjoy the moment. 😉 It will still be there later, I promise.
14. Always be Kind
Never miss an opportunity or a moment to be kind. Everyone is going through their own personal struggles, and are experiencing things that we don’t often see. Always, always, always be kind.
15. Follow Your Heart Wherever it Leads You
Whether your heart calls you to the Upper East Side of Manhattan to work in fashion, or you want to spend a year backpacking through Europe… Whether your heart wants you to go to cooking school in Italy, or if it leads you back to your hometown… always leave room to listen to the little voice inside. Your heart knows what it’s doing.💕
16. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, and Don’t be Too Hard on Yourself
More than half of the things I worried about in my twenties weren’t worth worrying over at all. And I can’t remember half of them now!😂
17. Everything Will Work Itself Out
Life has a funny way of working out, no matter how large of a scale our detours or mess-ups tend to be. (I know I had my fair share of them that’s for sure. 🤣)
18. Treat Yourself
Have you been eyeing those Manolos or that Chloé bag? It’s okay to treat yourself sometimes love. (I like to think of these pieces as investment pieces. 😉) After all, you work hard! #treatyourself
19. Settle for MORE
I’m constantly setting goals for myself, and once I reach one I’m always thinking about the next one! Never stop learning, never stop growing, and never stop pushing for the things that you want in life.
20. Done is Better Than Perfect
I’m such a perfectionist, so this one was very hard for me to learn. But you know what… once I let go and realized that things didn’t always have to be perfect to be great, I learned to enjoy everything more and it allowed for my creativity to shine in ways I never expected. 😊
21. Heartbreak Can be a Beautiful Thing
If it wasn’t for heartbreak, I wouldn’t have learned to truly love myself. I wouldn’t have seen my value and worth, and I wouldn’t have understood how to never settle for anything less than what brings my heart the ultimate peace and joy.
22. Your Life Doesn’t Have to Follow a Certain Timeline
Everyone’s journey is different. Everyone’s experiences are different. Everyone’s timeline is different. We can’t base our lives on the way that other’s are living theirs. It’s important to find beauty in your life’s journey, and to embrace every chapter with an open heart and open arms.
23. Not All Friendships Will Last, and That’s Okay
I had to let go of a few friendships throughout my journey into womanhood, and I slowly learned that it was okay. Sometimes in order to grow, you need to listen to what’s best for you and that means saying goodbye to certain relationships. This is all part of finding your true tribe.👑 Nurture relationships that help you be a better person, that will add beauty to your life, and that will edify you and build you up. Let go of all the rest.
24. Pursue Professional Growth
ALWAYS! 🤓
25. Get Your Finances in Check
Your twenties can be scary, and adding credit card debt into the mix is never fun! Start at an early age, and do what your parents always told you to: “Spend Your Money Wisely.” Open a savings account, keep track of what you’re spending on every month, set a budget for yourself, practice safe credit card habits LOL… your future self will thank you! (And thank you to my Daddy for teaching me everything I needed to know about money, having good credit, and always saving for a rainy day.) 💸
26. Stop Trying to Plan Out Your Life
Guess what y’all… life doesn’t always turn out like you had planned, and THANK GOODNESS for that!😅 If my life had turned out exactly how my 22 year old self initially wanted, I wouldn’t have been anywhere close to where I am today. Set goals, follow your heart, and let life happen.
27. Don’t Stay in Your Comfort Zone
Getting out of your comfort zone every now and then will often lead to some of life’s most memorable experiences. Trust me, it’s not as scary as you might think.🙂
28. Find a Few Great Role Models and Follow Their Lead
My mom has always been my biggest role model. When I grow up, I want to be exactly like her.😉 She’s driven, beautiful, kind, powerful, the best chef, my life coach, the most creative person I know, and so much more. I hope to be all of that for my children someday too.❤️ (P.S. – A few other favorite role models include: Anna Wintour & Dian von Fürstenberg)
29. No Dream is Ever Too Big
No matter how crazy or how big your dream might be, don’t ever let go of it. Our only limitation is ourselves, and if you believe in yourself you are completely and absolutely capable of anything and everything you set your heart to. 🙌🏻
30. Never Let a Day Go by Without Telling Your Family How Much You Love Them
I always strive to let loved ones know how much they mean to me. Whether it’s through a thoughtful card or gift, a sweet text, an afternoon phone call, or a surprise email! Never forget to tell those in your life how much you love them, how grateful you are for them, and how much they mean to you. ❤️
I hope that you enjoyed today’s post! I loved writing this one so much, and can’t wait to keep you updated on all of the new adventures that this decade has to offer. Here’s to turning 30!! 🎉
And, whether you’re already 30, are turning 30 soon, or turned 30 today too –
Put some lipstick💄 on, pour yourself a glass of wine🍷, and hold on, it’s going to be a fun ride! xo
photography by Madeline Harper.
