2020: Things I've Learned
I’m officially in the second half of my 20s and I feel like a lot of life lessons are kicking in these days. Here’s just a few of the things I’ve learned in this year of my life:
Know Your Worth
The definition of your personal worth doesn’t come from others. It’s something you’ll need to identify within yourself and hold confidence in while you interact with others.
Practice Time Alone
Not by watching TV at home alone, but by going on walks by yourself, or having a meal at a restaurant alone. Get comfortable with not always having to be “on” by doing something or talking on the phone. Sit alone with yourself and your thoughts. Read a book or smile at a stranger. But just be present in the moment and in the feeling of spending time with yourself.
Learn How to Use Your F*ing Oven
This is a personal note to myself. I didn’t know the markings here when I moved so I used a combination of winging it and following guidance from those around around me instead of just Googling it and 5 years in have found out I was using the broil setting. Major fail. My baking is going much better now!
Meditation is Worth the Hype
It’s taken me time to find what works for me. The styles of meditation I like, the periods of time that I like doing it for. Some days I like a one or two-minute meditation. Other days I could easily settle in for 20 minutes. But in that exploration, I’ve found a lot of peace and improvement in my mental health through meditation.
Continually Re-Find Yourself
There’s that age-old problem of people telling you “you’ve changed” in a disappointing way. But I think that’s a compliment. We should always be changing and growing. Sometimes I find myself running through my priorities, my ideals, and pondering whether they fit with my current self and my current world view. My perspective is constantly shifting as I learn and experience. So I’m spending more time getting to re-know myself on the regular and I find it helps me be more at peace with who I am and what my interests are.
Learn a New Hobby
I’ve learned a few new hobbies, mostly due to quarantine this year. But it’s been so refreshing to use that brainpower and to be bad at something (especially in the privacy of my own home). Watching my improvement of a skill over time has been especially rewarding and makes me feel like a more well-rounded individual with varied interests and knowledge.
Skincare is Important
I was never one for having fancy routines. I washed my hair twice a week, never used conditioner, and did absolutely nothing with my face. I had a good complexion, but usually one or two persistent pimples all the time. I finally started experimenting and researching skincare this year and it has completely changed my skin for the better! Now I feel more prepared as I age towards my 30s to have a good routine in place.
Contacts Make Great Onion Shields
I always used to wonder why people said that cutting onions made them cry. I’ve moved more to wearing my glasses this year and have finally realised that it was my contacts saving me all this time! Do I now put on contacts just to cut onions? Of course!