Halfway to 50: 25 Lessons to Surviving Adulthood (Barely)!

In honor of turning 25 on September 25^th , I decided to share 25 lessons I’ve learned over (almost) 25 years. *Huge shoutout to my hypnotherapist, Joan - you rock! I can’t even begin to express how grateful I am for your help in getting me to where I am today! Mom, if you are reading this, thank you for keeping up with me!

1. Be kind to everyone, every day. Being kind boosts your mood through “helper’s high” – your brain releases endorphins that feel like a mild morphine rush (that’s about as deep as my chemistry knowledge gets). Try it, seriously.

2. Friendships are more valuable than money and power. You’ll find far more joy in counting your friends than counting your cash.

3. Don’t worry about failure, worry about giving up! Failure is part of success. You’ll fail before you succeed, and even after you succeed. Failure is a good thing. It’s part of growth.

4. Listen more, talk less. You already know what you know – by listening you may actually learn something new!

5. Helping others doesn’t require money. All it takes is awareness, willingness, and a little effort.

6. Learn something new every day. Your brain is a muscle – if you don’t use it, it loses strength.

7. You can’t fix the whole world, but you can contribute to making it better.

8. Don’t follow the status quo. It’s okay to have different views from the majority. Stand firm in your beliefs, and don’t let anyone control your life!

9. If a job, a person, or anything doesn’t respect you or value you, why stay where you’re not valued? Don’t waste time on things that don’t treat you well.

10. Anything in life is possible, ANYTHING. It’s all about persistence. You will fail, and it will get tough, but keep going. (note: it will get tough often).

11. Stop wasting your life by numbing it. There’s more to life than being in a crowded, sweaty place surrounded by unclear minds. Seek experiences that enrich you. (Yes, I am telling you to stop drinking at bars every week, you are no longer 21).

12. No one is going to build your career for you. The only person you can rely on is yourself – stop waiting for a miracle. This applies to everything in life.

13. Happiness starts with you. If you’re not content alone, no relationship, job, or amount of money and fame will make you happy.

14. Stop comparing yourself to others, especially online. You are exactly where you should be, as long as you’re improving each day.

15. It’s never too late to change careers. Whether you’re 20 or 50, if you’re not happy, switch paths. Your degree doesn’t define your future.

16. Life is full of compromises; it’s about prioritizing what matters most to YOU.

17. Money can always be earned back – time can’t.

18. Say yes more often, even to things you don’t feel like doing. You never know what opportunities may arise.

19. Exercise DAILY. It’s key to staying healthy and maintaining a clear mind.

20. Get your 10,000 steps in every day, even when you don’t feel like it. You’ll never regret a walk.

21. Meditation is key to mental clarity. I used to think it was silly, but I tried it and it transformed my life.

22. Stop complaining. It doesn’t help you or anyone else. When I catch myself complaining, I either work out or read a book.

23. Don’t listen to the naysayers. Be confident in who you are, and if you’re not, remember you have the power to change. Identify traits of your role models, create a plan to adopt those qualities, and build yourself into who you want to be. Remember you control your own Sim character!

24. Don’t stay at a job you don’t love, either make the job work for you or go find something else.

25. Don’t let your ego block your opportunities – don’t let pride stand in the way of your success. (Still working on this one!)

At the end of the day, material things—money, power, status—don’t really matter. We’re all on borrowed time, and none of it will come with us. What truly lasts is how we treat others and the impact we leave. Acts of kindness and generosity cost nothing but can change everything—for you, for others, and for the world. There’s no benefit in being selfish or chasing materialism when real fulfillment comes from human connections and helping others. Life is fleeting, so focus on what really matters: making a positive difference in the lives around you.

As I approach 25, I’m proud of where I am today. A year ago, I was in a dark place—nothing felt like enough, and I wasn’t proud of who I was. But by applying these 25 lessons, my outlook, mindset, and therefore life have completely changed. Every day I wake up happy, fulfilled, and ready to make a positive impact. My goal is to continue contributing to a better world, step by step.

If you don’t believe in something greater than yourself, I encourage you to re-evaluate. In the grand scheme of things, we are so small, and life is so fleeting. Don’t get caught up in thinking you’re bigger than others or the world around you. We are all just a tiny part of this universe. 

Lastly, if you think I have it all figured out—I don’t. Everyone has insecurities and fears, myself included. The key is embracing them and living fully in spite of them. For insecurities, find the root cause and start working on it.

It’s a bit scary to be entering my mid-20s, but I’m excited for the future and the people I’ll meet. My mom had me at 25, and here I am, still figuring out my own life. But I know I’m on the right path. As overwhelming as it may feel at times, I know everything will work out, as long as I stay positive, keep a healthy mindset, and believe in something bigger than myself.