December 21st has snuck up on me once again and today I am turning 29 years old! I woke up feeling nostalgic and reflective, so I thought I’d share some lessons I have learned over the years that have helped me find myself and have brought me inner-happiness!

29 Lessons on my 29th Birthday

1.) You do not need to have it all figured out by an arbitrary age.

2.) Comparison is the thief of joy.

3.) It is totally OK if you haven’t hit those “milestones” that the media has tried to tell you “should have hit by now.”

4.) Don’t get frustrated if people don’t agree with what you do for a living. Remember you are the one working the job and paying your bills! It’s your career to map out, no one else’s.

5.) You are allowed to say “no” when you need to, and not feel like a bad person for it.

6.) It is OK to change your mind. (After all, change is good!)

7.) Try to put your needs first (especially in your 20s.) There will be many years ahead that you may not be able to do that.

8.) Good mental health starts with good sleep. Get enough, and try your best to make it a priority. I know it’s hard but it really is so important!

9.) Only follow those who make you feel your very best and want the very best for you!

10.) Always remember that life is SHORT! Practice gratitude every day.

11.) Life is a journey, not a destination.

12.) Try not to get hung up on regrets, after all, your past mistakes will make you the person you are today.

13.) Never let a relationship change you for the worse, stay true to yourself.

14.) Create goals, big or small. They help you stay on track.

15.) Only use social media if it truly inspires and educates you.

16.) You can never spend enough time with your parents and grandparents.

17.) Laughing is the best medicine.

18.) Go out and buy that dog you’ve been wanting. After all dogs are the best therapy.

19.) Practice your self-love mantra. Mine: “I am silly, sensitive and quirky but those who matter will love and accept me anyway.”

20.) It is OK if your home gets messy.

21.) Make traveling a priority.

22.) If you need help with direction in life, start with finding those who inspire you most and write down what it is that inspires you to help guide you.

23.) It is OK to live out of your comfort zone — that’s where growth happens!

24.) Find someone you deeply trust (for me, it’s my sister) and talk through your emotions and concerns with them. It is so nice to hear yourself say them out loud and to get them off your chest.

25.) Find time in the day to put your phone down for an hour or two. My husband and I do this every night during dinner time!

26.) If you have found your soulmate, love the {heck} out of them!

27.) Always tell those you love most how much you love them. Even if they are your family, don’t underestimate how nice it can be for someone to hear and feel it!

28.) The key to happiness is always being grateful. Focus on what you do have and not what you don’t have!

29.) Live your life for YOU!

Finally, when you start feeling anxious, stressed or lost, a good way to help soothe yourself is to drink a nice glass of wine, put on your cozy robe and your favorite chick flick.

Just writing these down has made me a little emotional. I wish I really listened/carried out these in my early 20s. I spent so much of my energy and time worrying about what people thought and trying to change myself to be liked by everyone. Reality is you will not be for everyone. Just remember you can’t change people. You are allowed to spend time discovering yourself and becoming who you were meant to be all along!

I hope everyone enjoys the Holidays and more importantly stays safe!

Xx Jaclyn