Reflecting on 28

28 Things I’ve Learned as I Approach My 28th Birthday

Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash

Life is always passing us by and we do our best to learn from it. Much of what we learned as kids was oversimplified, idealistic, or even just plain wrong. Nothing can beat life experiences, but I have found several things that I just wish I had been told or warned about.

So, here are 28 things that I have learned in my nearly 28 years of life on this Earth that might help some of you. It ranges from random “life hacks” to advice about work, relationships, and life in general. Feel free to take what you wish. Everyone’s situations in life are different. Your current means and needs will most likely be different than mine, but when you can focus on the bigger things, try to.

1. There will always be an “adultier” adult. No one has it figured out completely. Being 18, 21, 25, 28, 38, 48, or 58, etc. doesn’t mean you are an adult in the sense that you have it all figured out 100% of the time. Maybe when you are old and gray you claim some of this, but even they have to learn and adapt.
2. Age is just a number. What you dreamed you would be like at 28 (your career, relationship, location, life in general) probably won’t match up with the reality. You will most likely start panicking and questioning everything. Stop and take a breath. Age is just a number. And in today’s day and age, 28 is such a small sliver of the time you will reasonably have. You don’t have to have it all figured out and you can achieve your dream at any age. It just might be different than you expect.
3. Learn the things it’s worth spending more money on and investing in. This doesn’t mean breaking the bank on these objects. Just invest a little more than cheap to get something that will last. These include: decent shoes/ clothes, a mattress, haircuts/ hygience, kitchen essentials, and health/ wellness. In addition, add that one thing that is important for you to stay happy.
4. Don’t listen to that voice in your head that says you aren’t good enough: They often say that you are your own worst critic, but it goes even deeper than that. Imposter syndrome is real. It’s so easy in today’s society to think that we aren’t as smart, pretty, funny, etc. as others and therefore we don’t deserve this job, partner, etc. Do not listen to…