Today marks my twenty eighth birthday and I honestly cannot quite believe I have gotten to this age! It only feels like yesterday that I turned twenty one but in the same breathe it feels like an absolute age ago and it’s safe to say I have definitely come a long way in the last seven years. With that being said, I thought I would share with you some of the lessons I have learnt and share some reflections on turning twenty eight.
Here are a few reflections on turning twenty eight and some life lessons I’ve learnt along the way!
I’m Not Where I Expected to Be (but it’s totally okay!)
I think the biggest reflection on turning twenty eight and the most important life lesson for me, is that everyone thinks (stereotypically) that by the age of twenty eight you’ll be settled down, with a child or two and in your own home and I couldn’t be as far away from that if I tried! However, for me I don’t see that as a negative or in a way that I feel like I have failed because the truth of the matter is that I am probably the happiest I have been in the longest time. I look around at my friends, some of who have all of what I have said above but then I have others who are in a similar life situation as me, both of which are just as happy as each other and that’s the main thing to remember.
Embracing and Loving Yourself Gets Easier The Older You Get
This is definitely one that everyone has to learn and grow with in their own time and it’s something that definitely comes with age, but I am finally at that point in my life where I couldn’t care less about the way I look and have learnt to really embrace how I’m feeling mentally. Don’t get me wrong I still have my down days, but there are much more important things to focus on than picking your appearance apart.
Friendships Will Come and Go
This is probably one of the hardest life lessons to learn, purely because you honestly thing you’re going to be friends with your friends from high school, college, uni etc forever but the matter of fact is that this isn’t always true. It certainly isn’t the case for me and again, it’s totally okay for friendships to not last the test of time. You grow through all aspects of life and sometimes friendships don’t grow with you, and although sometimes it’s a shame you learn to adapt and get on with your life. Who knows, some friendships do and can come back together but usually for me friendships end for a reason and are better off left in the past.
If Something Makes You Unhappy, Make a Change
Mental health is always a tricky subject and I think everyone likes to look after their mental health in their own way and over the last year it’s something I have really tried to take better care of. For some people talking to a therapist is their way of taking care of their mental health, but for me it’s been more about changing the things in my life that compromise my happiness. In the last year I have taken a few steps in order to improve my mental health, the main thing being finally moving out of my parents house. Another big change was leaving my first ever job following graduating uni and spreading my wings into my now job. Although it was a massive decision and one I didn’t make likely, I honestly couldn’t be happier with these choices I have made this past year and I hope my happiness only flourishes even more from here.
Age Is Just a Number
To round off my reflections on turning twenty eight I am going to get really cliche with you, but when people say that ‘age is just a number’ it is so true! I honestly do not feel twenty eight, nor do I think I look twenty eight. Everyone is always shocked when I tell them my age and I always take it as a massive compliment. Getting older I think is often perceived in a negative light, but age is purely a number and it really doesn’t define you!
So those are just a few reflections on twenty eight and some life lessons that I am so grateful to have under my belt!
What are the most important life lessons you have learnt?
