25 Things I Have Learned by 25!
Reflecting on what I have learned this past year
25 Lessons
I wrote one of these last year as a simple way to reflect, and it’s become a practice I really enjoy - both for reflecting in the moment and looking back on in the years to come.
After I made this new list for 2025, I went back and read last year’s list, and it’s funny how similar some of these items are. Some things in our lives we learn once - like not touching the stove when it’s hot or how to tie our shoes. But other lessons we continue to learn day after day, year after year.
I guess these are some of mine.
So without further ado, here’s my list for 25!
The best way to conquer fears is to face them. It might sound silly, but I learned this on a field trip to an indoor slide park. I’m not the biggest fan of heights, and if anything seems even remotely dangerous, I typically avoid it. But as I watched my first graders going up the stairs and down the slides with no fear, I was inspired to try. I wasn’t going down the slides in spite of how scary they seemed to me. I was going down the slides BECAUSE of how scary they seemed to me. Facing the fear was the only way to make it smaller.
Don’t let jealousy make you bitter or angry. Let it inspire you and show you what is possible. It is so easy to compare yourself to others - how you look, what you have accomplished, things you have, etc. But I have learned recently to use jealousy as inspiration. It can whisper, “Look what is possible. If they can do it, maybe I can too.”
Do the things you know are good for you, and stop doing the things you know aren’t. Sometimes there is a surprising gap between what we know and what we actually do. Whether it’s getting more sleep, moving your body, or simply taking more deep breaths, turning your knowledge into practice is where all the difference is made.
Joy is essential. It is nourishment to our bodies.
Play is essential. Even as adults, we need time to be like kids. To run around and play. To make a mess. To be silly. It isn’t just fun, it’s also incredibly beneficial for our physical and mental health.
Rest is essential. I’ve said before that I used to always put rest at the very bottom of my to-do list. As a result, I never got around to it. This year, I am working on making it a priority.
You are on your own timeline. This isn’t the board game of Life we played as kids. There’s no single way to win or finish fastest. You can do things “early", “late”, or “out of order”. You don’t have to live by arbitrary deadlines.
Get the blue light blocker glasses with the amber lenses. Yes, they look silly, but they really work.
Sunlight is medicine. If you can, try to get outside at least three times a day. First, get out in the morning when the sun is still low. This helps recalibrate your circadian rhythm and wake you up. Go out again midday. Many weather apps show solar noon or peak UV for the day - the best times to get Vitamin D. Finally, get out again around sunset to signal to your body that it’s time to sleep.
Time stretches when there’s more novelty in your life. In new situations, your brain becomes more alert, and time seems to slow down. The same happens when you are fully present. There’s a quote I read this year from Happy Place by Emily Henry that captures this idea, “She shrugs. ‘It could still happen. Life’s long.’ That makes me snort with laughter. ‘I don’t think anyone says that.’ ‘Maybe not,’ she says, ‘but if they were truly present, maybe they would.’”
Don’t take life too seriously. I know you just read a quote about how life is long. But also, life is short. Too short to overthink and not dream big. It seems cheesy, but I think it’s true.
Start with the clothes you already own. When I decided to work on my personal style, I was tempted to buy a bunch of new things right away. But I realized the best first step was simply wearing what I already have. As I do that, I discover what I’m missing and can shop more intentionally. It helps me build a closet I truly love - and life is so much more fun when getting dressed feels good.
You don’t need a TV. We got rid of ours when we moved and haven’t missed it. Occasionally, we watch shows or sports on the iPad, but for the most part, we’ve simply replaced TV with other things. Now, when I do have something I want to watch, I have to work harder to find time for it!
Working weddings is fun! Last year, I coordinated a wedding on my own and started working as a wedding assistant. It’s something I genuinely enjoy, and it feels like a really good fit for my skills and personality. I would love to do more of it in the future!
Walking helps with so many things. Digestion, blood sugar, muscle tone, mental health, cardiovascular health, immunity - the list goes on and on. When in doubt, just go for a walk.
I can survive the winter! This year I learned that while winter will likely never be my favorite season, I can survive it - and even find ways to enjoy it.
You don’t have to define success and happiness the way the world does. Not even the way your parents or people in your hometown might. What does it look like for you? Explore and create a life around that.
Set aside time to be completely unplugged. Turn your phone off. While it might be uncomfortable at first, it is incredibly freeing to know that no one can reach you, and everything you need in that moment is already right in front of you.
Singing, humming, cold exposure, and deep breathing all stimulate your vagus nerve. This helps your body stay calm and resilient. You can practice these regularly to tone your vagus nerve and increase stress resilience, and you can also use them in stressful moments to calm your body.
I can do hard things. And you can too.
Book the trip, and schedule at least one day to pretend to be a local. We have taken a few shorter trips this year, and they have become some of my favorite memories. Our travel style is simple: we pretend we live there for a couple days. Maybe we’ll hit a touristy spot or two, but for the most part, we walk around, explore, and live like locals. It makes our days feel long and carefree, and we often stumble upon places we would have otherwise never found!
You don’t have to keep all those boxes that your Apple products come in. I don’t know why we all think we do, but we don’t. If it makes you feel better, snap a picture of the serial number on the bottom. But seriously, those boxes in your closet? You can throw them away.
Get a library card. And use it! Check out books in person, or download them on your Kindle with Libby. Spend an hour wandering, or sit and work for a while. My library card is one of my most prized possessions - and it was free!
Keep making more time to create. I want more space in my life to write, sing, doodle, film, dance, bake, or do anything that feels creative. I think creativity is like a muscle: if you don’t use it, it gets weaker. And I want a strong creative muscle!
Ask questions. Ask questions of other people to get to know them better. Ask questions of yourself to get to know yourself better. But beyond that, ask questions about everything - even, and especially, the things that no one else seems to be questioning. Why do we do things this way? Does it have to be done like this? How could it be better? What if we did it differently? I believe the people who ask these kinds of questions about what everyone else simply accepts are the ones who change the world.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this newsletter, it would mean so much to me if you would share it with a friend!
Take care,
Caroline
love this!!