I always love these types of posts. There’s something incredibly grounding about reading the wisdom that someone else has gleaned from their own life.

As a gift to myself for my 32nd birthday, I thought I would finally write my own.

Perhaps this will become a yearly tradition. I hope so.

These aren’t meant to be prescriptive or preachy. They’re simply meant as gentle reminders from myself to myself, and a tribute to all that life has taught me so far.

If there’s things in here that resonate, may they be a gentle reminder for you too.

If not, feel free to throw them on the trash heap of ‘useless advice on the internet that doesn’t work for me’.

And Happy Birthday to me. 🙂

life lesson #1

Friends who truly get you and grow with you over the years are rare and incredibly precious. Make time for them, and always tell them how much you love and appreciate them.

life lesson #2

Actually, tell everyone who means a lot to you that you love them. As often as possible. Never take it for granted that they know. You never know when it might be the last time you can tell them.

life lesson #3

Joy is important. Make time and space for it in your life. As often as you can. Without it, life is empty.

life lesson #4

Expectations around what life should or shouldn’t look like have a way of sucking the joy from everything and making you feel like a failure. Be generous with yourself and gracious with the uniqueness of your own journey.

life lesson #5

Simplify. Simplify your schedule. Simplify your job. Simplify your home. Simplify your belongings. Simplicity creates space and liberation. It also tends to be more sustainable – for us and for the planet.

life lesson #6

Climate change is fucking real. And we all have a part to play in fixing it.

life lesson #7

Sometimes your life turns out totally different to how you’d planned. (Actually, most of the time). That’s OK. In fact, one day you’ll look back and realise it was probably for the best anyway.

life lesson #8

“Let go or be dragged”

~Zen proverb.

There are some things that simply need to be accepted and let go of. The sooner you can do it, the more peace you will find.

life lesson #9

Consistency is an incredibly generous law of nature. If you simply keep showing up for something, you will eventually see results.

life lesson #10

The present moment is where all the joy is. Spend as much time there as you can.

life lesson #11

True intimacy with someone requires you to get real. To take down the walls, to become emotionally naked and to bare those parts of yourself that you’re scared to show. It’s vulnerable, and uncomfortable, but it’s fucking worth it.

life lesson #12

Forgiveness will set you free.

life lesson #13

It’s never too late to discover a new passion. Just this last year I discovered I’m crazy about tennis. Who knew?

life lesson #14

Sex is so much better when you find your own reasons for having it (instead of doing it for someone else).

life lesson #15

Your boundaries matter. And it’s your job to communicate them. The people who constantly try to erode those boundaries are not your friends. You don’t need them in your life.

life lesson #16

You’ll make mistakes. You’ll fuck up. Learn from them, but don’t punish yourself forever. Shame will get you nowhere.

life lesson #17

“You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body,
love what it loves.”

~Mary Oliver. Wild Geese.

life lesson #18

Few things will bring you as much joy as walking through the forest looking at birds. Do it as often as you can.

life lesson #19

There’s always multiple truths in every situation. If you can truly understand and empathise with someone else’s truth – even when it seems to contradict your own – you can solve any conflict.

life lesson #20

How you perceive yourself in the world is rarely how others perceive you. Get curious – it may surprise and delight you. Or it may show you places where you need to clean up your act.

life lesson #21

Reading a book is almost never a bad idea.

life lesson #22

You don’t have to love yourself fully before getting into a relationship. Great love will help you to love and accept those places you thought unlovable. You only need to have enough self-respect to know your worth.

life lesson #23

Your values aren’t set in stone. They will change and re-order as you grow older. This is a good thing.

life lesson #24

Most of what you worry about will never come to pass. Worry less, live more.

life lesson #25

A journal and pen are the greatest personal development tools there are.

life lesson #26

Nike was right: Just do it.

life lesson #27

“We have a right to our labor, but not to the fruits of our labor.”

~Bhagavad Gita.

The more you can enjoy the process and surrender to the outcome, the greater peace and contentment you will find in your work.

life lesson #28

Save more than you spend. Being financially secure will make you feel like a bad-ass, and the stress it removes will make you feel 100 pounds lighter.

life lesson #29

“I just washed my hair is” not a good enough reason to not swim in the ocean.

life lesson #30

Listen to your body. Respect your health. It’s kinda important.

life lesson #31

It’s OK to ask for help. And it’s OK to receive it.

life lesson #32

Love hard or go home. Life’s too short to spend time with people you don’t like, doing things you don’t care about.