6 ‘Major Keys’ I Would Have Told Myself in My 20s

As a woman in her 30s I often think about my 20 year old self. I find myself at weird times laughing, smiling, and sometimes on the verge of crying. If you saw me in the street, on the train, or in some random place, you would probably think “What is wrong with her?” Although my 20s weren’t perfect, they definitely prepared me for my 30s. I try not to dwell on the mistakes or on things that I wish I could change. Having a case of the “would’ve, should’ve, and could’ve” serves me no purpose now when thinking about my 20s, but it does impact how I make decisions in my 30s. So here are six things that I would have told my 20 year old self now that I am in my 30s.

6 Things I Would Have Told 20 Year Old Me

1. It is ok to say no- You do not have to do anything you don’t want to do in order to please people. You don’t have to please people. Your decisions are exactly that, your decisions, so if it is something that will not benefit you in anyway or help you help others, you can and should say no.
2. Strive for Great Experiences- as a former fashion blogger you would think i would love expensive bags and shoes. Although those things are great, I now value experiences. So think about traveling the world and taking risks (responsibly) that help you grow and step out of your comfort zone.
3. Stop Apologizing– I’m honestly still struggling with this. I find myself saying “I’m sorry” just because. Don’t apologize for being you. Apologize if you hurt someone, but not because of decisions that you’ve made or who you decided to become. *cues Beyonce ‘Sorry’ sorry, I ain’t sorry*

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4. Everything Isn’t a Competition- You can be nice to to other people, especially other women. I was never mean to anyone intentionally, but I did not cultivate certain relationships because of this perceived competition between me and other people. We can all slay together.

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5. EXERCISE- They say after 25 your metabolism slows down and your weight catches up to you. How true is that. Develop a good habit of exercising regularly. Exercise should be a daily part of our lives. Don’t just exercise when it is bikini season. Exercise because you want to look good and also feel good.

6. Invest and Save Your Money- You do not have to wait until you are married or in your 40s or 50s to think about owning property. You don’t have to wait until you’re 30s to start saving for retirement. Build these habits now so that you can reap the benefits early on in life.

Don’t Take Yourself So Seriously- It is ok to laugh at yourself. It is ok to live a little. Live. Laugh. Love. Pray. Click To Tweet

What are some lessons that you wish you can tell yourself when you were younger?