I turned 34 on the 13th and wanted to do a more reflective post for you all. I listed 34 things I have learned in the past years of my life! Click more to read them all.
1. Worrying about myself is a life long job. This is something my dad used to say to my sister & I when we would compete with each other on everything! This is still one I struggle with today. It is hard to look at others in their life journey and not compare yourself! I constantly have to stop myself and just look at how far I have come!
2. I need a planner! After college I stopped using a planner because I didn’t have anymore homework. This year I got this one and have felt much more in control. For work I can write down what I need to get done in the week or for the day! And for blogging it has been so helpful to plan out content and make sure I can meet my post deadlines. I really love the act of writing. It helps me to remember and is somewhat therapeutic.
3. Alcohol + Emerson does not mix. Click here to read why I stopped drinking about a year and a half ago.
4. Being alone doesn’t mean I am lonely. This one was hard for me because I am a type A extrovert! In the spring of 2017 I had just moved to a new city, was single, stopped drinking, and needed all new friends (most of the friends I had met in Minneapolis would go out a party which wasn’t a great mix for sober sally). I spent a lot of time alone and learned to enjoy being by myself and doing my own thing. Here is post I wrote on living alone!
5. Silence is golden. I am confident enough in myself with silence and try not to use fillers like ums & head nods.
6. I love books on tape. I never enjoyed reading because I am dyslexic (no that doesn’t mean I see letters backwards) and I struggle to read. One of my favorite books was The Charisma Myth where I learned a few of the 28!
7. Make my own truths. When someone cuts me of on the road or says something rude during a meeting I like to make a story in my head that they had a super bad day and are just trying their best. I won’t ever know the real reason behind the remark or why that person merged infront of me so just think the best.
8. I look better in heels! I rarely wear flats because I think I look short and stumpy when I do lol. I am only 5’3″.
9. I can’t control others. No matter how much I try I can only control my actions and not others. What I can do however is influence others. Specifically through being charismatic
10. Copy + Paste! Best tool to get things done faster.
11. Pedicure first then spray tan.
12. Don’t need to re-invent the wheel. It’s ok to take someones idea a build upon it and make it my own!
13. Paycheck to Savings! For me to save money I need to not even see it. That is how I saved 10K in a year spoiler I had in my bank account when I started.
14. Louder doesn’t mean better. This one is for you dad….I tend to get supa loud when I want people to listen to me. Still a work in progress lol.
15. My dad is always right. I tried to fight it throughout high-school and college but he is a pretty smart guy.
16. How to parallel park. I had to park on the curb for an entire year when I got my masters at Villanova.
17. I can live anywhere within an hour of a Nordstrom. I have lived in Denver, Philadelphia, Dayton, Minneapolis and Kalamazoo (which is too far – hence why I moved).
18. How to listen. Not thinking about what I am going to say but truly listen to what others have to say.
19. To ask others questions. Despite what I want to think it’s not anyways about me. I used to only talk about myself
20. Everyone has got an opinion and I don’t always need to listen to everyone’s. Even if it is coming from my mom or sister (love you two) I can still make my own decision. I am really close to my family and really take their opinion to heart.
21. It doesn’t matter what I said it only matters what was heard. I may of had the best intentions but at the end of the day it only matters what the other person heard.
22. Mistakes happen. It’s about making sure they don’t happen again and how I repair what I just messed up. This is a great one for work. Make a little mistake and it’s just a matter of fixing it, moving on and putting something in place so it won’t happen again. When I started out at my first job I sent an email to my one over manager and a bunch of directors with a couple of incorrect numbers. I corrected it and realized I need to slow down and re-read my emails before I send them!
23. Forgive others. It benefits both people. I don’t need to carry grudges because that will hinder my way to SUCCESS!
24. I don’t need to like everyone at work. I just need to be able to work with everyone whether I like their personality or not.
25. I can do anything if I put my mind to it! If I really try at something I can achieve anything. A big stretch role was applying for the role I currently am in. I practiced interviewing questions, put the work in and landed my first supervisory role!
26. My vote matters! The election of 2018 was the first time I voted & if you do the math I could of voted is 3 presidential elections. I had a bunch of excuses (in college, moved to a new state, didn’t have an in state license) in the past but am proud to be able to vote and use that right. && of course I voted in the 2020 election!
27. Make a list! It always helps when you write it down vs. trying to keep everything in your head. One of my 10 tips for getting the most out of my day!
28. I CAN weigh myself. I am a recovered “weigh myself 3-4 times a day” girl. I actually didn’t weigh myself for 2 years & when I got back on the scale I had a much better relationship with the scale. I use it as a data point to see where I am but don’t let it change my mood or make me feel like I am off track. More on my weigh loss journey here.
29. I DONT NEED A MAN TO BE HAPPY! this has been the hardest one for me to learn this year. Ending a 2.5 year live in relationship and my younger sister getting engaging it made it a little tricky. At the end of the day everyone is on their own path! Five years ago, heck two years ago I never thought I would be where I am today: a full time blogger supporting myself living in a downtown Minneapolis apt. I am loving my life and my new little addition Coco.
30. I am AWESOME! And humble too (still working on that one lol). Self confidence is everything though. If I don’t think I am great how is anyone else?!
31. Celebrate small victories! I am always aiming for big goal. But stopping along the way to celebrate the small victories really helps to keep me motivated to keep pushing through. Small victories lead to big triumphs!
32. It’s never too late to pursue your passions! Each day offers a new opportunity to chase after what sets your soul on fire. You never know what life has waiting for you around the corner. The most fulfilling chapters of your life story might still be waiting to be written.
33. Life is a continuous process of learning and growing. Life’s not about having all the answers but enjoying the crazy ride of discovery. It’s a series of growth spurts, and the more you dive into it, stumbling, picking yourself up, and laughing along the way, the more you’re truly living. So, here’s to the messy, unpredictable classroom of life – where the best lessons often come when you least expect them!
34. Sometimes the grass IS greener on the other side. In January of 2024 my instagram account was deactivated, I restarted my account from scratch, ended a 2 year relationship, sold my condo in Minneapolis and moved back/bought a place in Denver. LOTS OF CHANGE! I had a bit of a rough start but everything turned out far greater than I ever could have imagined! Starting a new instagram account that allowed me to focus more on YOU, my followers, and what you are truly looking for. I took time to reflect on what I want in a partner and future husband. Plus, I am happy to report I’ve started seeing someone new! Moving back to Denver brought me closer to family and I couldn’t be happier! Sometimes setbacks can seem like the end of the world but there might just be something greener on the other side.
Check out some of my pics from past birthdays!
If you made it this far congratulations! Comment below which was your favorite!
xoxo, E
I love this! I’m a high school teacher & have decided that instead of “nouns & verbs” lesson I was going to teach today, I’m going to have them do something like this…As 15-18 year olds, my kiddos need some positive reflections (everything right now is so negative for my kiddos!). Thanks, I better go start my list-show them what I’ve learned in my “100 years!”
Happy late 30th birthday!
I loved it all..you are such a sweet beautiful girl spreading so much light!! You rock 🎄⛄️💕❤️💖🎂
Thank you sharing! I loved this.
Happy Birthday to you and cheers for many more ♥️😊
Loved this! And I’m not 30 (way older!). You have made some ah-mazing points! Great read AND great INTROSPECTION (#31 – Don’t be afraid to be introspective). Love your content! Keep it up!
Thanks so much Val!