30 Lessons I Learned In My 20s

For weeks now I’ve been struggling with the idea of turning thirty. I keep ruminating over all of my regrets, missed opportunities, and failures of the last decade. Evaluating myself against everyone else’s accomplishments, I found myself in a downward spiral. All the what-ifs were beginning to take a mental toll on me. So, I began to examine my life through the lease of gratitude for all the many blessings that I have. My twenties were extremely hard, but I learned so many lessons that I can take with me into my thirties and beyond. Here are thirty lessons I learned in my 20s:

1. Life is a journey, not a race.
2. I don’t owe anyone any explanations about my life and my choices.
3. I can learn from anyone.
4. Procrastination is self-sabotage.
5. Every current decision has a future cost.
6. No response is a response.
7. Indecision is a decision.
8. It’s perfectly fine to let people go.
9. Patience is key.
10. If I’m not obedient now, I will sacrifice later.
11. Forgiveness is for me, not the person I’m forgiving.
12. No one sees me as harshly as I see myself.
13. Mental illness is not a character flaw.
14. Self-care is a necessity.
15. I must grow where I have been planted.
16. Success is subjective.
17. Peace is a priority.
18. Live now. Tomorrow is not promised.
19. Self-acceptance is the gateway to freedom.
20. Happiness is an inside job.
21. I am only as limited as my thinking.
22. Hard work builds character.
23. I must trust the process.
24. Have a plan A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H, I, J,K,L,M…etc.
25. It’s okay not to be okay.
26. Asking for help is a sign of strength.
27. My story matters.
28. Don’t quit. Rest.
29. Failure is a part of success.
30. To whom much is given, much is required.- Luke 12:48