When I was a little girl I always thought I would be 20 and that's it. Not in a sense "I wouldn't make it past 20" more in a way that this was such a big number and I could never imagine being older than that. 20-year-olds were so mature, so wise and SO OLD in the eyes of a naive 10-year old. Well, here I am.. clearly made it past 20. Today I actually became 25 years old.
I know, I know.. it's just a number. I personally don't even like birthdays that much. I am not someone who craves attention. But I do like to see my loved ones and go out for dinner or something. I just try to stay away from Birthday-Partys for myself.. thanks but no thanks. But I do like to reflect on my past year. What have I learned, how have I changed?
Today I thought I would go through the major points with you.
1. You don't have to have everything figured out.
That's a big one. I always thought I will have everything figured out in my mid-twenties. I'll be married, maybe even planning on having children soon. I will have a house and my dream career. Well, that's not how life goes for most of the people and that's more than okay. I would even say it's great! Your twenties are here to try and to fail. To plan and then to scratch those plans and make even bigger plans. Today I am still going to university, doing my masters in economics. My dream is to work in Marketing for a big technological company.. or maybe stay in the beauty/fashion industry? Who knows.. Time will show! I am far away from getting married, but I do have the most amazing boyfriend who picks me up when I am down, and who pushes me to pursue my dreams. If you ask me, that's so much more important than having a ring on your finger. Children are for sure so far from my mind.. maybe in 5,6 years.. but for now I still feel like a child myself. But does that ever change for anyone?
2. Vegetarianism is great.
Okay, this is not necessarily something I have learned this year. I have been a veggie for a couple of years now but this year I feel like I am embracing it even more. People always ask me why I stopped eating meat. Some people do it for health reasons but for me, it's for sure the ethical side of things. Don't worry! I won't give you a preach right now. All I want to say is that I have never been so comfortable living without meat and fish. Earlier I sometimes wouldn't tell people even if the topic came up. I felt like vegetarianism had some kind of stigma. Maybe the times have changed maybe I have changed. But I love it!
3. Invest in experiences, rather than things.
I know this sounds like a cliche. But when I was younger I would trade a family holiday for a new pair of boots ANY TIME. A bit embarrassing to admit haha. But I was very very very materialistic. Don't get me wrong, I still love clothes, bags, shoes and makeup. But I try to cut back massively. At the moment I just wish I could be on a city trip to NY or London, with my favourite people. This to me is pure happiness now. A fab pair of boots is just a little extra sprinkle of happiness.
4. Aspire to be the better version of yourself - Not a copy of someone else.
I have lost quite a lot of weight a few years back. And I hate to admit my main motivation wasn't getting healthier (which thank god I did!) but it was getting thinner. But the reality is, that picture you have in your head of what you want to look like, that's most likely not gonna happen. Okay, don't get demotivated yet. I just mean, where does this picture come from? Most probably from Instagram, Youtube or a magazine. Definitely, you saw that body on someone else. Because IT IS SOMEONE ELSE'S BODY! It's not you. That doesn't mean you can't become fit and toned. Hell YES you can! But maybe you can't have that big butt like Kylie or these abs and the almost non-existent hips you saw on Gigi. And that is fine! Accept how your body works, how it's shaped and work with that. I personally always admired very petite, thin girl. The ones that have a very straight figure. Well, apparently that's not me. And that is totally fine. My hips are curved, my butt and my boobs are more prominent but my waist is relatively small. There is no way I can change that without getting surgery. But I can get fitter, stronger and more toned. So aspire to be the better version of yourself, not a copy of someone else.
5. Sometimes, feeling stuck is a blessing.
It pushes you to change something in your life. And change is really what keeps life interesting, what makes it colourful and vibrant. But we all know how easy it is to avoid change, out of pure fear. But feeling stuck helps with that. It is the little push you needed to overcome your fear and just go for it. Move to the different side of your country or even the world. Change your job, maybe even change your career? End relationships that are bad for you and make room for new ones. So maybe see this feeling as the start of something new and the push you needed to make that change you wanted for some time.
Okay, this is it for now. I didn't think these points would turn out so long. I had a few more on my list to discuss but I will save them for a different post.
I hope you liked reading something a bit different from me!
Have a great day.
xx Lisa
Loved this post, I'm 25 too and when I was younger I definitely used to think that by 25 I'd be married with children- how wrong I was!
ReplyDeleteI love the point that you don't have to have it figured out-something that I also definitely used to think that was crucial at my age but it isn't at all.
Jade xo
www.thejadefiles.co.uk
So glad you liked it girl!
Deletexx Lisa
I love this post as I also remember being 10/11 and thinking that my life would be complete at 20, but I agree that it is nice to know that this is the time to try (and even sometimes fail) many different things! Happy Birthday :)
ReplyDeletehttp://fannyanddailybeauty.com
Thank you so much girl!
Deletexx Lisa
What a lovely post, I adore your blog already and a more personal post. I turned 26 last week and can relate to so much of this - thinking you'll have it all worked out by your mid-twenties but actually ending up on a slightly different path and learning a few different lessons on the way
ReplyDeleteEmma xx
emmajtaylor.co.uk
So happy you could relate hun!
Deletexx Lisa
Love these tips! I think the best thing I have learned so far in my 20s is to really aspire to being the best version of myself - self development is always the focus!
ReplyDeleteAlso - happy birthday!!
http://skylish.co.uk
YES so true girl! Thank you!
Deletexx Lisa
Happy Birthday. I loved all of your tips, and thoughts. I totally agree with you about figuring out everything, and being comfortable with your body.
ReplyDeletehttp://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/
Oh yes you are right hun!
Deletexx Lisa
Aww love this post. I'm turning 24 and can already resonate with all of this especially 2 and 3 :)
ReplyDeleteHpappy birthday!
http://www.desiringsme.com/tres-parisienne/
YES! Thank you girl!
Deletexx Lisa
Really loved reading this post, you are so right in everything you said! Happy birthday sweetie, hope your day was amazing! x
ReplyDeleteCarolina's Makeup Life
You are so sweet! Thanks Carolina!
Deletexx Lisa
Lovely post!
ReplyDeleteAlya / moorizzla xx
Thank you Alya!
Deletexx Lisa
What a lovely post! Love your photos!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
Deletexx Lisa
I completely agree, not everyone has the sh*t together and I used to panic that I didn't have mine together.
ReplyDeleteKathryn /Cherries in the Snow
so true girl!
Deletexx Lisa
I really enjoyed reading this! I couldn't agree more with 'having your life figured out' I thought I'd be married, on my second child with house and career by 25, I'm now 26 and have one out of the four of these :)
ReplyDeletetheButter.co.uk
hahahaha absolutely!
Deletexx Lisa
Great post girl! Really enjoyed reading it!
ReplyDeletehttps://popangelscloset.blogspot.com
So sweet.. thanks girl!
Deletexx Lisa
This post made me so happy, what a great read! I totally agree on not having everything figured out, it takes time and your twenties is all about experimenting with life! It's great to hear that you'd rather have memories than materials, I'm the same way and think those experiences are worth so much more. Thank you for sharing such a lovely post xx
ReplyDeleteSending light & love your way,
My Lovelier Days
So happy you enjoyed it hun!
Deletexx Lisa
Happy Birthday. This was such a lovely, positive post to read! x
ReplyDeleteTiffany Tales | Lifestyle & Beauty
YAY so glad!
Deletexx Lisa
Hope you had a lovely birthday! Number 3 is so deep, I couldn’t agree more. It’s the experiences we have which make us who we are, not the possessions xx
ReplyDeletewww.gracefulblog.com
So glad you could agree babe!
Deletexx Lisa
What a lovely post to read! I love reflective posts like that, it's always good to go back to what you've achieved and what you remember from past experiences. I can relate to most of these, and aspiring to be a better version of ourselves is the best advice we could ever follow!
ReplyDeleteJulia x
www.juliaspeaksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk
Absolutely girl! Thank you!
Deletexx Lisa
i always thought i had to have my whole life figured out as soon as i'm in my twenties but that is not true and it made me so much happier.
ReplyDelete❤︎
www.elenaisabelle.com
SO TRUE!
Deletexx Lisa
Totally agree with all of these things! I sometimes feel the stigma associated with veganism but I live in LA where like half the population is vegan haha so it's only when I leave Southern California usually! But the world is changing and embracing it now that the ethical side is being exposed more and more! I became vegan after 12 years of vegetarianism and literally was one of those people that thought I would never be able to live without cheese and dairy but once you find out how those things are made and what goes into them (I watched a bunch of videos about it) you will want to run for the hills lmao!! I have not missed cheese once and eat amazing Ben & Jerry's almond milk ice cream all the time
ReplyDeleteBeauty & Colour | Vegan Lifestyle Blog
So inspiring girl!
Deletexx Lisa
Happy birthday. Loved the post. Many of the topics here we will carry through life. Loved it. xoxo Cris
ReplyDeletehttp://photosbycris.blogspot.com.au/2017/10/zaful-embroidery-wishlist.html
Thank you so much!
Deletexx Lisa
I love reading your life lessons, so inspiring! Happy birthday! XO
ReplyDeletewww.sipsandstyleblog.com
Oh you are so sweet! Thank you!
Deletexx Lisa
wonderfull post girl... :)
ReplyDeletehttps://wpthemesfree.website wp best
So glad you liked it!
Deletexx Lisa
This is such a lovely read. Indeed, we should invest in experiences, more than things. And no, it's not a cliche. Too many times we get caught up with the latest tech and fashion trends, we forget the more important things in life - human relationship, memories, and experiences.
ReplyDeleteJessica | notjessfashion.com
YES YES YES! Thanks for the comment Jessica!
Deletexx Lisa
This is exactly what I needed to read!!! I'm having a very crappy time at the moment and I just feel like i need a long relaxing trip away and to revamp my life. I've completely fallen out of love with life right now and this post is definitely helping to put things into perspective
ReplyDeleteAbi | abistreetx
Oh Abi I hope you feel better soon!
Deletexx Lisa
Babe!! How amazing is this! Congrats on the weight loss and happy b'day to you!! You have achieved so much at 25! You should be so proud babe!
ReplyDeletexxx
Ashley
www.missgunner.com
Ashley you are the sweetest! So cute!
Deletexx Lisa
It is so positive you have realized these things at 25. Just wait till your 30 and so many more realizations will come your way!
ReplyDeleteX
Samantha
www.thenewyorkblonde.com
You are so right girl!
Deletexx Lisa
Thanks for this, I believe around 25 I started to "awaken" and realise my life was just that, mine. And any mistakes that I had made were up to me to rectify within myself. You begin to live for yourself, focus moron what make you happy, not be so concerned of what people think of you and say no more often, as you mentioned also. ❤️ Happy 25 xx
ReplyDeleteYou are so right girl!
Deletexx Lisa