27 Things Learned by 27

This essay originally appeared in the Monday morning newsletter on 4/12/21.

I turned 27 yesterday! I’m not sure if anyone else with a birthday in March or April feels this way, but it feels kinda strange to be celebrating another birthday within the pandemic.

Things are definitely different than April of last year (for example, I’m currently writing this while enjoying the ambiance of a restaurant, which I wasn’t able to do a year ago), and I do have a lot of hope about the progress we’re making, but I’ve still experienced mixed feelings as I’ve reflected on the past year.
 
So, in an effort to have some fun and take the pressure off of focusing just on the past year, I wanted to see if I could come up with a list of 27 things I’ve learned/am still learning at age 27. The exercise ended up being so fun that I deiced to share my list here this morning. There’s absolutely nothing about the information below that’s groundbreaking and many are things I’m still working to remember myself, but nonetheless, I thought it would be fun to share and hear your thoughts. So, tell me: what’s one thing you wish you would’ve known at 27? Or, what’s one thing you hope to know at 27? 

27 Things I’ve Learned by 27:

1. Say yes often. Especially try to say yes when it’s someone asking you to do something for the first time. (Often if you say no, they won’t ask again.) 
2. Before leaving a room, take a moment to think if there’s any small task you can do for “future you.” Future you will be so glad you took 30 seconds to hang up the coat, refill the water bottle or take out the trash. 
3. Be the friend you want to have. Don’t wait for a friend to call you, ask you to do something or send a text. Show up first as the friend you want to have. 
4. In college, I was extremely focused on avoiding any risks that might impact by GPA. And while GPA is certainly importantly, I wish I would’ve also focused on my curiosity and collecting as much knowledge as I could.
5. Your brain will respond to whatever you are feeding it. Even after school, you can continue to learn and expand your thinking with the content with choose to consume.
6. There’s more feelings than just feeling happy or feeling sad.
7. Speaking of feelings, feeling anything other than happy isn’t bad. Most of the time, it’s an indicator. Just as being thirsty signals you haven’t had enough water that day, feeling something can be a signal that a “temperature check” on yourself is needed. 
8. Unfollow your ex. Just do it. Social posts have a way of popping up at the most unexpected times and derailing however you were feeling before.  
9. Find ways to love some aspects of your job. You don’t have to over-glamorize it or feel like you’re your settling, but if you are going to be spending so much time on something, it doesn’t hurt to find some things to enjoy.  
10. Perfecting the art of the “Irish goodbye” is one of the best life skills.  
11. When other people are sad or upset, often the best thing you can do is just sit with them among the mess instead of trying to jump in and fix it.
12. There is a difference between being by yourself and feeling lonely. Pay attention to what or who makes you feel lonely. 
13. Don’t underestimate the power and clarity that can come with a good night’s sleep.
14. Set a reminder or get in the habit of taking time to recognize what’s going right. It’s so easy to focus on what’s going wrong or what needs fixing that we often don’t take time to appreciate what is working out.
15. You don’t need that last drink. 
16. As my favorite Irish proverb says, “what’s meant for you won’t pass you by.”
17. It takes more effort, but you will likely feel better if you put down the phone and pick up the book (or sketchbook or journal, etc.).  
18. It can be uncomfortable at first but figuring out a system for managing daily finances in a way that feels good to you can be so helpful.
19. You will learn so much about yourself from the experience of living alone. 
20. Physical clutter is mental clutter.
21. Frozen vegetables can be just as good as fresh vegetables and a whole lot cheaper.
22. You are the five people you surround yourself with. This applies to people in your life and the content you consume.  
23. Journaling is a free, accessible and powerful way to move through many different kinds of emotions. Set a timer for 30 minutes and just start writing. 
24. Ask your grandparents and parents to tell as many stories as possible. Stories are easy to remember and make for amazing memories.  
25. Things that go wrong often make the best memories. When things don’t go according to plan, take a second and remember that one day in the future, you’ll probably laugh about this. 
26. When getting brewed coffee at a coffee shop, always ask for a “small in a medium cup.” More often than not, you’ll get more than you paid for.
27. Find a good tailor. Properly fitting clothes can be a gamechanger.

What do you think? Any reading tips or tricks you are interested in picking up during this National Reading Month? And if you have a great reading tip or book recommendation, I would love to hear about it! 

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