Belated Birthday Reflection: 28 Things I’ve Learned

When I sit down to write a post, the reader is always numero uno in my mind. Providing valuable content for you guys is on the top of the priority list but sometimes I need posts like these. At the end of the day, Balance & Chaos is my outlet to express myself. Occasionally, it is an outlet to reflect.

As I’m sure you saw on Instagram, I had a birthday earlier in July. Cliche, but how the hell did I get to be 28? On the same hand, I definitely feel much older than I did just a few years ago.

I thought it would be fun and hopefully relatable to list off 28 things I’ve learned in 28 years. A while back, I asked you guys what you wanted to see more of from me and one topic that was repeatedly suggested was ADVICE. Which is funny. But here we go!

1. You probably won’t feel 28 when you’re 28. At least in my personal opinion. The thought of being in my late twenties is crazy because it doesn’t feel like it. My sister and I have about a 6 year age difference so she always seemed so much older than I was. Until now, of course. I watched her and my brother get their licenses, go through high school and college, get married, and have babies. At the time, those milestones always seemed so far away. Now here I am…and my sister is begging me to have babies because I’m behind in comparison to her timeline. LOL…
2. A few years after you graduate, life is weird. I had read about the so-called quarter life crisis but didn’t prepare for it until I was in it. It’s hard to explain, but basically it was like I was trying to figure out the whole career thing, learning to “adult”, beginning to despise the bar scene all while wanting to maintain the same social life as I had in my early 20s but then later hating myself because I had a 3 day hangover. Eventually, I figured it out and no longer feel pulled in so many directions.
3. Elaborating on #1 and #2 – you will not have your stuff together by 28. We’re all just winging it.
4. It’s definitely true when they say your metabolism will slow down. Eat more pizza while you can.
5. You will lose some friendships along the way. There are forever friends and then there are friends that come and go. With that being said, I am at the point in my life now where I can understand that some relationships just don’t “stick”. There doesn’t always have to be a reason for it either and that’s okay.
6. Living at home for a period of time is genius and nothing to be ashamed of. As long as you have a good relationship with your family and you can tolerate it, build up that savings account while you can! I moved out when I was 25 which that leads me to #7…
7. Living on your own is also a valuable life lesson. Try it if you can afford to do so in your city!
8. Me-time is some of my favorite time. Learn to love being alone.
9. Don’t wait until your late twenties to start working out. It’s much harder to get into shape this late in the game. Trust.
10. As already mentioned once, your hangovers WILL become weeklong marathons. This is your warning.
11. Find a passion. I was just recently talking to my mom about this the other day. She told me that I’d probably be a lot less stressed if I didn’t have my blog and just worked a normal full-time job. To be honest, this is 100% accurate, however, my blog is my passion. It’s hard for me to stop thinking about my next move, my inbox, how I’m going to land my next collab, or what I forgot to do. I don’t even remember what I did with my free time prior to blogging? I guess I’d probably have a better social life, a more present mindset, and more time to binge-watch Netflix? Read my blogging story here.
12. Take care of your body. But also indulge from time to time. Balance & Chaos, ya know?
13. LIVE. There have been and ARE times in my life where I just need to relax and live life. I’m still learning to take life a little less serious. I feel like I’m constantly living off of a to-do list with the next task looming in the back of my head. There is time for work and then there is time for play. Find a healthy balance.
14. Cherish your college years. There’s lit-er-ally no other time like it.
15. Don’t do the worm on a hardwood floor.
16. Family first.
17. Comparing your life to someone else’s is a waste of time. More on that here.
18. Jobs are temporary. If you hate it, find something else ASAP.
19. Travel as much as you can! A part of me wishes that I lived in a different city right out of college.
20. Be nice to people. I’ve never been the “mean girl” and I pride myself in that. Drama is literally for the birds and makes me feel super uncomfortable.
21. Take pictures. They are the best memories in my opinion.
22. Relationships sucks. Until you find one that doesn’t.
23. Learn to say no. To offers, social plans, people, requests. Don’t be a yes man!
24. Take a listen to the song ‘Five More Minutes’ by Scotty McCreery. This basically explains how you will feel after mostly all chapters of your life. I suck at change and am one to get super nostalgic when I think back to certain phases of my life. But I guess that just means I’m living my life right!
25. It’s impossible to maintain a Pinterest-perfect apartment or home.
26. Forget the timeline.
27. Learn to direct your energy towards the things that excite you and make you happy.
28. 30 might not be that bad?