30 Lessons I’m Learning in My 30s
1. Be patient. Good things take time.
2. Focus on people, not things.
3. Just ask. Don’t let fear of rejection control you.
4. It’s always personal to someone.
5. Some things you know. Some things you believe. Some things you hope for. These things will change.
6. It’s okay to believe you are making the best choice. It’s not okay to tell everyone else that their choice is wrong.
7. Dessert has consequences.
8. Err on the side of kindness.
9. If you tell yourself you can’t wear that, do that, or go there, you can’t.
10. Kids are paying attention to everything you do and say.
11. Drama is only entertaining on television.
12. Marry your best friend.
13. Admit when you’re wrong.
14. Let others change.
15. Listen first. Talk second.
16. Trust your instincts.
17. Sometimes it’s okay to stop and try again tomorrow.
18. Good things come with age.
19. You’ll never regret stopping to play with your kids.
20. Forgive – yourself and others.
21. Don’t try to watch shows you loved as a teenager now. You’ll just ruin it.
22. When you feel down, serve someone.
23. Heaven is a place where we’ll continue to grow and learn.
24. You can be honest and straightforward without being unkind.
25. Sometimes it’s best to say nothing.
26. Don’t make people earn your respect. Give it freely, unless they give you reason to behave otherwise.
27. Friends can be your family.
28. Take risks.
29. Sometimes you have to fake confidence to gain confidence.
30. Don’t view yourself through the twisted lens of how you believe others see you.
3, 29, 30 for sure…
Good rules to live by I just wish we could learn all of this sooner in life. I guess it has to come with maturity.
Good list, #21 is hilarious and true:)
I especially liked #29…I felt this way when I taught the lesson in the women’s class last Sunday in our new church congregation. But it’s true, by the end of my lesson I really did feel this way and I made a handful of friends along the way by being open and a little bit vulnerable while teaching by sharing with people I didn’t really know yet. Now if only I could work on #1 by being more patient…
What great advice. It’s too bad that most of us have to experience the consequences of not following these “rules” before we realize they are right.
Great list! I love #3. I tend to worry about rejection all too often.
Some of these gave me some serious guilty feelings (not your fault!). Mostly, that kids are always watching you! I just turned 28 and something I’ve learned recently is that sometimes good things have to fall apart to make way for better things. Sometimes a dream or plan we had doesn’t work out and we want to mourn our loss when really we should try to see that it probably didn’t work out because something better for us is in our future. And we shouldn’t fret so much over the things we can’t change and get to work on the things we can. I like how you said we should focus on people, not things because lately I haven’t been as kind to my son as I should be. I haven’t given him the attention he deserves and it makes him act out. And when he acts out, I let it bring out the worst in me.
Great advice! I love #26.
Instead of “Dessert has consequences,” try thinking about sometimes foods and anytime foods. Cake is a sometimes food and is okay in moderation after you eat your anytime foods of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean protein.
I started learning these things at a very young age when I had my first daughter.
This is a good list. I should make one too. 🙂
Dessert does not necessarily have consequences, but overindulgence does. A little dessert is ok, I think.
I am working really hard on the “trust your instincts” lesson, especially when it comes to being a good mom to my baby. Sometimes you gotta go with your gut, even if others disagree.
Im in my 30’s now too, and could definitely stand to follow this advice! Love it!