This past weekend, I turned 33 years young and I thought it would be a great exercise to challenge myself to do this. Really sit and go through 33 different lessons both from life & motherhood. What would I change? What would I tell my younger self? What new perspectives have I gained? So without further adieu…

1. Finding yourself isn’t a one and done thing. Daily you will have to enter into the hide & seek game. It’s more like “chasing yourself.”
2. For every 1 bad thing, 10 more good are right behind it
3. You’re special but not unique. Everyone shares in love and eventually loss
4. Vulnerability is necessary. It will show you who you’re safe people are.
5. You have the time. It’s up to you to make it.
6. Love what you do. If you dread showing up the next day, it’s not the right fit. Keep looking and trying new things
7. Don’t be afraid of being alone. Let yourself be from time to time.
8. Invest in earplugs to help knock yourself down a notch
9. Gut feelings are a real thing but sometimes it takes time to nail down. You might get it wrong but you need to in order to learn the moments you are right
10. Anyone who makes you feel stupid, doesn’t deserve your time. Friends, family, professionals, doctors, etc.
11. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Remember in the end, we’re all going to die one day. Morbid, I know. But seriously it’s true. What’s it matter?
12. What someone thinks of you is none of your business. It’s not your responsibility to fix the lens through which someone sees you
13. The future is better than the old days. Let yesterday go
14. You’re don’t have to like it all in order to say you’ve loved it in the end.
15. Don’t seek. Attract. The things that belong to you will find you. Focus on the energy you put out into the world and towards others.
16. Go to the dentist every 6 months and don’t skip. Even if you hate it.
17. Everything feels worse when you’re hungry and tired. If you’re having a moment, eat something. Drink water and try increasing your sleep first and then reassess.
18. Family dinners do not make great families.
19. Grief isn’t linear. It comes in waves. In the most unexpected of ways. Time doesn’t heal it but makes it harder to recognize
20. Forget ordering one meal at a restaurant. Order a bunch of appetizers and bring home the left overs. More food, more options, same price.
21. Be choosy about who you follow on social media. Ask yourself “is this a person I would want sitting next to me in a room full of people I know?” If the answer is no, unfollow. Do the same with your in person friends.
22. You’re allowed to ask for help. There is not one person on this planet who has been able to do it all alone.
23. Don’t get rid of a landline. Save it for 911
24. You are smart and capable enough to make your own decisions. You don’t need to get everyone else to weigh in
25. Don’t fucking cut your own bangs. Trust me, it’s not the move. Have a good cry, a glass of wine and PUT THE SCISSORS DOWN
26. You can do hard things. Don’t believe me, you are literally reading this. I doubt every moment that led you to this very day has been a cake walk
27. Numbing yourself doesn’t just take away the bad.
28. Name your anxiety and tell it to “bring it on.”
29. The fear of fear and pain is what will make it worse.
30. Tell him what you like and don’t like. Yes I’m talking about sex. They aren’t mind readers and there is nothing embarrassing about knowing what feels good for you
31. Say 1 kind thing to yourself every day. Even if you don’t believe it at first. Eventually you will
32. You weren’t born to be tolerated. You were born to be celebrated. Find those who will remind you of that daily.
33. You’re enough. You’re enough. You’re enough