issue 170: 29 things I learned in my 29th year of life

Here's The Thing Newsletter

1: your morning coffee cup is the most important part of your day. You take that coffee however the hell you want

2: if you frequent somewhere and forget employees names, or maybe it’s your friends boyfriend name you keep forgetting etc, put it in your phone notes. Remembering names goes a long way

3: life isn’t about saving money every moment you can. Go out, enjoy your local spots, tip well

4: having a dog and being an older sister have been my top two favorite life experiences

5: flossing! Worth the hype

6: you just never really know, which is why I try not to feel shame attached to regret

7: my only regret of my twenties is not taking care of myself consistently, sooner (moving my body) (wearing my retainer) (getting medicated)

8: so, regret can be helpful, it’s a guide to how you want to be, who you really are. I guess we could call it a roadmap instead

9: when I’m driving sometimes I’ll only allow myself the radio, instead of connecting to my Bluetooth. You don’t have to control and curate every moment of your life. It’s a meditation

10: sometimes the fastest way to make sure your partner is meeting your needs is by taking care of theirs first (relationships are such loops and mirrors, shoots and ladders)

11: if everyone is doing something it doesn’t mean it’s lame, it doesn’t mean it’s over done. Sometimes it just means something is great

12: the older I get the more I hate giving advice or thinking I “know” anything

13: If we’re talking about love, I kinda believe the dumb saying about “becoming the person you’d want to date” first being the first step to someone lookin for love

14: I thought of one more regret. As I get older and friends start having families, moving, changing, I wish I would have prioritized friendships more the past few years.

15: add all your loved ones birthdays into your phone

16: after years of not trying medication, listening to people who aren’t doctors, telling me it’s all bad for me— getting on adhd meds have fundamentally changed my life in the most incredible way

17: Speaking of that, doing something I’ve been avoiding/procrastinating usually gives me a boost that’s as strong as my adderall

18: if you have a pet spend time sitting on the floor with them, petting them softly, no phone in site, no podcast playing. Just you and them

19: chat with your pets like they are humans, they love it

20: I think birthdays are so fun and should be celebrated

21: whenever I feel really dark and hopeless, instead of trying to change how I feel by force, I just remind myself it will pass, and my dark thoughts aren’t “true”, they’re not “me”

22: sometimes, it’s best to look at your worries and say “maybe that will happen” I will be ok. Maybe I won’t? It’s called acceptance I think. And you will be ok!

23: sudoku is gods greatest gift to this earth

24: you have to dry down your washing machine after you use it or there will be nooks and crannies full of gunk that are almost impossible to clean

25: again, tip well

26: you don’t always need to be fully “understood”, even by your loved ones

27: I don’t think everyone needs to have a “dream job”

28: the best hang is a long walk or a long dinner, or long drinks

29: I really enjoy getting older. What a gift!