28 Things I Learned at 28

It’s my birthday week and I’ve been reflecting on the incredible privilege of having been alive for now almost 29 years. Every year I’ve learned and grown (mostly by making mistakes) into a slightly different person than I was the year before. So this year I decided to celebrate the process by making a list of things year 28 has taught me. 

1. There’s no timeline your life has to fit into. You are not behind schedule because there is no schedule. 

2. Don’t compete for anyone’s attention. Attention is a gift to be given, not a prize to win. 

3. Accept that all stories end, some sooner than you expected. Enjoy the story anyways. 

4. Learn to be fully present with yourself. Give yourself the same respect you give others and pay attention to your own voice, no distractions. 

5. (Re)learn how to disconnect. Take a day and remember who you are apart from the stream. 

6. Sometimes you’ll just have to delete instagram off your phone. 

7. Feel your feelings. Don’t squash or ignore or minimize any of your emotions. The whole spectrum is what makes you human.

8. If nothing makes you angry, you aren’t paying attention. Anger is proof that you care and you haven’t given up. 

9. But get angry with grace. Don’t use your anger as a weapon. 

10. Unpack your boxes. Decorate your space. Even (especially) if you know it’s temporary. 

11. Get your bike out of storage and ride it. 

12. Tell other people the truth about themselves and all the good you see in them. 

13. Make art just because it makes you happy. 

14. If you start a book and aren’t hooked, you don’t have to read to the end. Reading isn’t an endurance sport.

15. You can’t fix everything, but that doesn’t mean you can’t fix anything. 

16. Don’t silence yourself just because you don’t want other people to be uncomfortable.

17. You’ll be scared, but show up anyways. 

18. You’ll be tired, but show up anyways. 

19. You will want to coast through life and take the path of least resistance. Fight against that temptation. 

20. Good intentions are not the same as right action. 

21. Your faith will never be static. That means it’s still alive. 

22. You will change in ways the people around you may not expect or understand. Those who love you will still love who you are becoming. 

23. Learn to accept that at any moment you could be totally and completely wrong. 

24. Hold your opinions loosely and your values tightly. 

25. Hold your possessions loosely and your integrity tightly. 

26. Even your dream job will be hard and frustrating sometimes. That doesn’t mean it’s not still your dream.

27. You never have to accept “because that’s how it’s always been done” as a final answer. 

28. Pray every day for grace and fire. You will need them both.