Another birthday has since came and gone but the whole month leading up to my birthday I spent reflecting on my life these last 25 years. Even more so I feel like I honed in on the last 5 years of my life as they have been extremely transformative having left formal education, started my career in clinical dietetics, becoming a wife, a homeowner, and so much more!

Without further ado though, let’s dive into my 25 life lessons that have reason stood out and are so important in my humble opinion.

1. For the love of all things good, stop comparing someone’s once in a lifetime moments to your everyday moments.

2. Some friends may last a lifetime, others may only be in your life for a season. Each serves its on purpose and you need to recognize the relationship for what it is/was and when it’s time to let a friendship go.

3. You have to take ownership of your life. You are in charge of your own wealth just like you are in charge of your own health. Just as no one else can make you be healthy, no one but yourself can make you wealthy. Don’t place 100% of your future in a company because no one is going to care about you like you care about you.

4. Just chill, you don’t have to take life so seriously. You also don’t need to self impose arbitrary goals and timelines on you life especially seeing as you can’t predict the future.

5. There is no such thing as life balance, so stop chasing it. Instead start pursuing intentional imbalance suited to the season of life you are currently in.

6. Invest as soon, as often, and as much as you can. This is true of finances but it is also true of relationships.

7. You can’t find or buy a beautiful and happy life, you choose it and create it.

8. Evaluate the source of your dreams, goals, actions, and desires because this life is too short to be living for anyone but yourself.

9. Time is your most valuable commodity.

10. Memories and experiences are so much more valuable than possessions.

11. Stay connected with the people in your life that are important to you.

12. People are thinking about you as much as you think people are thinking about you, so just stop caring what they think.

13. Gratitude and being grateful is a gateway to a happier and more wholesome life.

14. See where you are comfortable, and then see what happens when you push beyond that. As they say, growth happens on the other side of comfort.

15. Having margin in your life allows you the opportunity to live a happier more fulfilled life.

16. Always give without the expectation it will be reciprocated.

17. People can’t read your mind. So voice your thoughts and expectations especially in your marriage and other important relationships.

18. Your value is not determined by your achievements.

19. You see what everyone has not what everyone sacrifices.

20. Voice your happy and uplifting thoughts. It could be a small action that changes the course of someone’s day or quite possibly even their life.

21. Sometimes you have to tear it all down to build it back up. Take a home remodel for instance, you may have to take your home down to the studs in some room, or even rearrange the studs, in order to have the home of your dreams. The same goes for life I that you will have to sometimes take it back to the bare minimum to see what really matters to you.

22. Regret and fear are the thieves of today but having faith is the savior. There is truly no sense in regrets aspects of your past or fear for what is to come as all you have to live for is today, this moment.

23. The voices you listen to determine your future. This is true of friends, family, social media, podcasts, musics, tv, etc.

24. Grace costs you nothing.

25. Comparing yourself and your life to others is a waste.

Figured it would be fun to end it off with a little birthday selfie as I’m sure I’ll change with age and it’s fun to see who you were and what you looked like throughout the years.

Thanks for reading and if you made it this far I would absolutely love to hear your own life lessons!

As always, I hope you have a happy and wholesome day!

~ Madison Eran