Today I turned 30 and feel absolutely fabulous. Still on a high from my weekend spent with family and friends, I’ve been thinking about how much I’ve grown in the last little while.
In some ways I’m completely different from the girl I was 10 years ago. However, I am still that same strong-willed, ambitious & creative person that I was back then. I am now a woman with a beautiful little family, on a career path that I have built for myself, and I’m learning to enjoy this life that I’ve been given.
Here are five life lessons that I’ve learned in 30 years that I would tell my younger self:
Change equals growth
I used to be apprehensive about change, whether it was getting a new boss, a client asking to shift strategy, or changing career paths. However, I had to truly learn to embrace it over the last year, especially with a new big challenge popping up in my life. Change may not always be good or in your favour, but it means that you are growing as a professional and human, which is something to be proud of.
Focus & stay in your lane
As an entrepreneur, scrolling through social media is truly the devil. Everyday I come across someone launching a new product or offering a cool service and I think, “Wow I could have done that!” Completely forgetting for a second that I’m also working on my own projects that I know my community will love. While it’s great to stay alert, motivated and inspired through other people’s success, I try to use that energy to focus on myself and work diligently to complete the things I’ve got going on.
Reflect on your success and failures
Whenever something goes sideways (a video not performing as well as I thought it would or losing potential business or a client), I get down on myself, eat bad food & cry to get over it. Lately I’ve shifted my mindset to ALSO celebrate success, even if it’s a small win.
With a 6-month-old baby it constantly feels like I’m doing something wrong or not using my time wisely… but that’s so not the case! I take a minute to reflect on my day and think, did I get laundry done? YEP! Did I ensure Zak is bathed and ready for the day? YEP! Did I manage to go to the store and get dinner ingredients? YEP! All of these tasks count as daily wins.
The other day I finally published a blog post that I’d been working on for weeks. I was SO proud of myself for getting it done that I celebrated later that evening with James. We ordered pizza, watched our current favourite TV show (Handmaid’s Tale… so good!) and hung out like bums on the couch. It felt glorious!
Self-love & happiness is a journey, not a destination
As cliché as this sounds, it is always a great reminder when it pops up! Instead of constantly striving for perfection and to ‘be happy’ (both impossible things that were the goal in my 20s), I have come to realize that it’s actually the journey that matters and to enjoy the process of it all.
Health is everything
The last couple of years have been a whirlwind when it comes to my health; both physically + mentally.
I spent most of my 20s dreading the thought of working out or creating healthy habits. The only time I’d be motivated was if I had to look good for an occasion or striving for that ‘summer bod’ and then forgetting about it in the winter. Such a bad way to think about fitness and health that way!
As I got closer to my 30s, I began to pour more energy towards the body and skin that I’m in, no matter what the cost. I can’t tell you how great it felt once I began working out for nobody else but myself. Going to a fitness class that I love makes me feel good and is worth the investment. Using Sunday evening to prep salad lunches keeps me on track and is worth the time.
My 20-something self WOULD NOT BELIEVE that I actually enjoy working out now and prefer eating in more than going out!
Hope you enjoyed this reflective piece as much as it felt great for me to sit down and write it!
Photos by Catherine This Life
