32 Lessons About Life

From a 32 year old who's still figuring it out

As you likely guessed from the title of this post, I just turned 32.

Now I’m really in my 30s.

And honestly … I feel pretty good.

Of course, life hasn’t always been easy. I didn’t think 32 would look like this. Though to be fair, I’m not sure what I thought it would look like — I’ve never been one to have strict life plans.

My birthday (or at least the build-up to it) brought on a lot of introspection, as per usual. I’ve had some sad moments in the past month as I’ve dealt with frustrating things professionally, which led to some inevitable pre-birthday existential dread.

I haven’t had the easiest year on paper. My little family is still dealing with the aftermath of our move from the UK to Canada and the immigration process. Getting settled has taken longer than we thought — mostly because the job market in this city feels, shall we say, resistant to newcomers. In some ways, it feels like we’ve taken a big step backwards coming back to Canada, even though we both love being on the coast. But oh well, I suppose that’s immigration for you. Starting from scratch in hopes of a better life in the long run.

I also got some major news about my health this year. I had to go all the way to Nepal to be diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, a condition that runs quite rampantly on my father’s side of the family. It was a life-changing trip for that reason alone. But as devastating as the news was, it helped me reconnect with my father and put a lot of things about my life, and my health, in perspective.

So when my big day hit, I felt at peace.

I treated myself to a calm, relaxing day that reminded me of what matters most: I’m mostly healthy. I’ve got people who really love me in my life. I live in one of the most beautiful corners of the planet. My dog is damn adorable. So what if I don’t earn six figures and live in a luxury condo? At least I get to make a living doing what I love.

My laidback, treat yourself birthday: a lazy morning, brunch with my mom, and an afternoon nature walk in my favourite garden. Not pictured: the sun pouring onto my yoga mat for my late morning session & dinner with my husband

To fully remind myself of how far I’ve come, I wanted to list out 32 things I’ve learned so far in life. I’ve never done one of these exercises before, so I figured now is a good time to start! Maybe anyone who’s older will quietly laugh to themselves because they know I still have so much to learn. Hopefully readers in their 20s (or even teens — are there any teenagers here?) will find some valuable insights. Either way, here’s what 32 turns around the sun has taught me so far.

1. Health is wealth.

2. It’s better to be alone than with people who don’t make you feel good.

3. Love shouldn’t feel hard.

4. You’ll never regret the time you take for rest or fun.

5. Live somewhere you love. You’ll know it when you feel happy and relieved returning home from a trip.

6. There are people out there who will love you exactly as you are — quirks, flaws, and all. Hold on to them.

7. Just because it’s a tradition, doesn’t mean you have to partake.

8. Flexibility of the mind is just as important of as flexibility of the body.

9. Chosen family is just as valuable (or sometimes more) as non-chosen family.

10. Not everyone is going to like you. And that’s ok, because you’re not going to like everyone.

11. The conventional route isn’t always the best one.

12. The realest friendships and relationships can survive distance and time apart.

13. If something didn’t go your way, it wasn’t a waste of time. It was a learning experience.

14. Quality over quantity, always.

15. It’s easier to accomplish tasks/goals in small steps or doses.

16. Experiences are often more valuable than things, and you probably need less stuff than you think.

17. If you can’t stop thinking about it, do it.

18. Diversity really is the spice of life — travel, try new things, interact with people from a completely different background. You’ll learn so much.

19. Setting goals is good, but there’s no point in beating yourself up if things don’t go as planned.

20. The cheapest option doesn’t necessarily provide the best value.

21. People don’t care as much as you think … and that’s a good thing.

22. Nature is usually so much more impressive than man-made things.

23. Find the right balance of organization and spontaneity.

24. There’s not just one way to live a healthy lifestyle. You get to choose what works best — and is enjoyable — for you.

25. Be honest about what you want.

26. Don’t overcomplicate things if you don’t have to. Life is hard enough as it is.

27. Don’t rely on other people for your own happiness. Learn to enjoy your own company.

28. Life is often more pleasant when you’re nice, but don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself.

29. Try not to hold grudges for too long. We all fuck up, and forgiveness is healing.

30. Don’t be too afraid of change. You’re more adaptable than you know. Before you know it, you’ll be a few weeks into your new situation and your old life will feel a million miles away.

31. Take time to do things just for yourself.

32. Time is such a valuable resource. Do whatever you can to give yourself more free time.

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I’m looking forward to what else I’ll learn in the coming year. If you have some insights you want to share with me, please drop them in the comments! I’m all ears.

If you enjoyed these wisdoms and are wanting more, you know what to do ↓