Happy May!
As you know we have been running a little birthday countdown/mini series over here on all things Gee. Mainly because it means I have distracted myself instead of freaking out over turning 25 and things not being quite as we had expected them to be.
I am however learning through-out this series that this is a common feeling and I am very much not alone in this. One of the main things I wanted to provide in the series was a little theme of advice. Now you will have seen that I have already put up a post on advice from my wonderful friends and family.
However this one is slightly different and I could not be more excited and grateful to be able to share it with you. When starting out this series it was a little brain child inspired by some of my favourite posts to read. In this I started discussing with my Daisy and if you have been around for a while you will know how much I truly adore this woman.
I asked her if she would mind being a part of this little mini series and if she would mind writing me a little something I could post as its own little post. That being said I never in a million years expected her to write it in almost a letter/list directly to me. Not only is the advice incredible, but it is written in a way that feels nothing but heartfelt and warm. Daisy for you I will forever be grateful. Thank you for taking the time to write the below.
25 Things about turning 25
As you are turning 25, I figured I would write you a list (we do love a list, don’t we?) – 25 bite sized chunks of advice, being as I have done waaaaay more than twenty-five spins around the sun myself. Here are the things I wish someone had said to me on my 25th.
1. Be yourself, always. You are irreplaceable and uniquely brilliant. The universe doesn’t have anyone else like you, so you owe it to the world to be as you as you possibly can.
2. Life is short. We are not here for a long time, we are here for a good time. Say yes more often.
3. Say no more often. Yes, a lot of my advice will be contradictory. Experience and your gut will teach you if you should be saying yes or no. Remember that “no” is a complete sentence and you don’t owe anyone an explanation.
4. What other people think of you is none of your business. Everyone has opinions, but not all of them are valid. Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you affect your opinion of you.
5. If you think you can, you might. If you think you can’t – you’re right. Believe in yourself.
6. They are called feelings because we are supposed to feel them. Sometimes you just have to feel your feelings, in order to let them go.
7. Water makes everything better. Whether that’s in the form of a walk along the seafront, a bath, a glass of water, a cup of tea or a good cry. Whatever you are going through, water will help.
8. There is no such thing as a guilty pleasure. If you enjoy something, you should not feel guilty about it.
9. This one is a cliché, but time really is a great healer. When something is upsetting you or making you mad, ask yourself “will this matter in five hours/days/weeks/years?” Often the answer is no, which makes it easier to get through things and move on.
10. Don’t compare your behind the scenes life to someone else’s highlights. Particularly in this social media age, we often are allowed to see what is good in someone else’s life without so much as a glimpse of the struggles behind it. Comparison really is the thief of joy. Live your best life and wish the same for everyone else, without wanting what they have.
11. You can’t pour from an empty jug. Rest does not have to be earned. Self-care is not selfish. Breaks are necessary.
12. I would rather regret the things I have done, than the things I haven’t. I would much rather reach my dotage saying “I wish I hadn’t done that” than “what if I had?”
13. No-one speaks to you as much as you speak to yourself. Choose those words kindly. Treat yourself with the same love, respect and care you show your friends. Be gentle with yourself.
14. Protect your peace. Wherever possible avoid drama and chaos and the people that cause drama and chaos. You will feel better for this in the long run. Some people have really bad energy. Avoid them too.
15. Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. Outside of your comfort zone is where growth happens.
16. Embrace change. It’s the natural way of the universe. We are not supposed to stagnate. Our bodies and our minds are designed to be shaped and moulded by the world around us.
17. Happiness is not a final destination, nor is it a constant state. It is a series of fleeting moments as we walk the path of our lives and it is up to us to take a moment to appreciate them. Time spent with good friends, hearing a song we love unexpectedly, the sun breaking through the clouds. The little things that make a difference. Don’t take them for granted. Acknowledge and appreciate them. And while we are talking about happiness – Harry Styles. Need I say more?
18. You don’t need a permission slip. You are a grown-up and you are in charge of your life. You make your own choices and you only have yourself to please.
19. Boundaries. Know them. Set them. Stick to them. Honour yours and those of other people.
20. Use social media with intention. Curate your space in a way that benefits you. Don’t follow accounts that trigger you or make you feel a certain way about yourself. Don’t hesitate to block accounts that cause you pain or distress.
21. A bad day does not equal a bad life. You only ever have to live through a bad day once and once it’s done, you get to start over the next morning.
22. Be the world’s best cheerleader, for yourself as much as anyone else. We all need encouragement and enthusiasm, so learn to be your own champion and advocate.
23. One of my favourite sayings is we have to play the cards we’ve been given, not the hand we wish we’d been dealt. I guess it really means we always have to make the best of what we’ve got.
24. Practice gratitude. Even on the bad days there is always something to be grateful for, even if that is just making it through said bad day.
25. Trust yourself. No one knows you as well as you know yourself. Trust your instincts, trust your abilities. You have made it to 25 and you have learnt so much along the way. You have the whole rest of your life ahead of you, so you need to fully trust in who you are and the things you believe in. 25 is a magical number, full of possibilities and promise.
Happiest of birthdays to you Gee. You deserve the world and everything that is good. I love you.
I just wanted to end this post one more time by adding how incredibly blessed and grateful that the universe works in mysterious ways and brought you into my life. Daisy I say it everyday and I will continue to tell you. I love you, and I am so so grateful for our friendship.
What is your favourite piece of advice?
Love Always,
Gee xoxo