wish I had known in my 20s

10 Things I Wish I Had Known in My 20’s

Looking back in retrospect, I was a hot mess in my 20’s!

If I could go back and give my younger self some advice, these 10 pieces of life wisdom would definitely be exactly what I needed to know.

Start living your best life now!

 

#10 – Sex doesn’t equal love

Just because you are getting naked and sexual with someone doesn’t mean they love you or even that you love them. Sometimes sex is just sex. Naked doesn’t equal intimacy.

Never use sex to get love, it only leads to hurt feelings in the end.

 

#9 – Nobody owes you anything

That’s right. There really is no such thing as a “free lunch” – everything has its cost.

There is no birthright or law saying that when you get out into the world things will be handed to you. In fact, you’ll learn to love and appreciate life more if you have to work for the things you want and have.

So get out there, get your hands dirty and blaze your own path!

 

#8 – You are in charge of your own life – no one is going to save you

Ever notice in romantic comedies there is always someone getting “saved” from their own mistakes? Someone is always there to help the main character pick up the pieces of their shattered heart and life.

That’s just not reality.

Life is not a happy ending Rom-Com. Be your own saving grace and hero.

Sure, you only have yourself to blame for getting into a mess, but the great part is you have yourself to dig back out and start over again.

Speaking of starting over…

 

#7 – It’s never too late to start over

Guess what? You can hit the reset button on your life at any time, however many times you need to.

You hold the power to look at your life and say at any time, “This isn’t what I want.” So what if you tried something and failed. At least you tried. Take the lessons learned and start over again wiser and stronger! You’ve got this!

 

#6 – Family isn’t always your blood relatives

Sometimes our families can be really rotten to us – sad but true. But hey, you have your friends.

Family doesn’t always equal blood relations. I’m sure you have friends who you’re closer to than your parents or siblings. Cherish them – they are your new family you’ve created, and sometimes that is all you need to get through.

 

#5 – The way you view and treat yourself sets up how others will view and treat you

I’m sure you already know the Golden Rule, well consider this the Platinum Rule – Treat yourself the way you want others to treat you. In addition to this, show yourself the love you want and most of the time, people will respond to you with love in their actions.

You are not a doormat; so don’t let the world regard you as one! You are a badass and empowered woman with so much to give to the world – act like it and accept nothing less than what you feel you deserve. Always.

 

#4 – Always trust your gut instincts

Ever get that feeling in the pit of your stomach when something doesn’t seem just right? Trust it! That’s your intuition talking to you and most of the time it is spot on.

We are humans and we tend to think more with our hearts and ignore our gut instincts. Learn to trust that inner voice, telling you when something feels right (or wrong!)

Just remember, hindsight is always 20/20.

 

#3 – Whatever you focus on, good or bad, you will attract into your life

The Secret, Law of Attraction, whatever you want to call it – it’s not a bunch of new age hoopla, it’s true!

If you think positive thoughts and are grateful for the things you have in your life, the universe is going to give you more things to be positive and grateful for.

It really is that simple. Start transforming your life today.

 

#2 – People are going to talk – always. So give them something good to say

This one can be interpreted so many ways. In this instance, it’s more about controlling your impulses.

Don’t do something today that your older self might have to explain away. Just because you can do something scandalous doesn’t mean you should.

While you shouldn’t rely on what other’s think or say for your self-worth, you shouldn’t make yourself into cannon fodder either.

As my mother used to tell me – “keep your nose clean and nothing will come back to haunt you.”

And probably the most important thing of all…

 

#1 – Follow your bliss

If you have a passion inside of you – to write, to act, to create art, to become anything – then go for it!

Having a passion for something is your true life calling.

You don’t want to wake up in your 40’s or 50’s and realize you should have been living your passion. That kind of realization is a tough pill to swallow when you’re older, trust me!

Sir Richard Branson said it best: “There is no greater thing you can do with your life and your work than follow your passions – in a way that serves the world and you.”

Now you’re armed with the wisdom my younger self so desperately needed – and took another almost 20 years to learn the hard way! Get out there and make the rest of your life the absolute best!