The years leading up to 30 are the most fascinating and educational years of your life. During those years, you discover the ins and outs of this life, mature into your adult self, and formulate your long-term life goals. Here are some of the most important things women should know by the time we’re 30:
- Bad boys can’t be tamed. I know they’re irresistible, especially when you’re young and don’t know better, but they’re trouble in the long run. By the time you’re 30, you should have figured out that they bring more pain than they’re worth.
- Your parents were right about some things. While your parents’ taste in music and/or clothes may still seem bizarre, you discover through the years that mom and dad were right about some things, like working hard, being honest, and being careful about who you trust.
- Love doesn’t conquer all. It’s a sad thing to admit for those of us who are hopeless romantics, but love isn’t enough. In order for a relationship to be successful, it also requires hard work, compromise, mutual goals, and the right timing. Most of us learn this via trial and error by the time we’re 30.
- It’s OK to not know exactly where your life is headed. When you’re young, 30 sounds really old, as if you should have your life figured out by then. By the time you actually reach 30, it doesn’t feel quite as old (except when you’re hanging out with 20-somethings) and you realize that you don’t need to know everything that’s going to happen; you just have to have faith that you’ll get through it.
- You’re beautiful and you’re not fat. As women, we tend to get really insecure about our bodies in our 20s. By the time you reach 30, you should be able to look in a mirror and realize your own beauty and worth. The number on the scale doesn’t determine your value unless you let it.
- Trust yourself; you’re more capable than you think you are. It’s a big secret until you’re actually grown up, but adulthood is basically one big game of “fake it until you make it.” If you have basic common sense, street smarts and some personality, you’ll make it.
- Being independent is awesome. At some point before age 30, every woman should experience true freedom. I’m talking about hanging out naked at all hours of the day/night because you can, doing whatever you want to do whenever you want to do it, and relying on no one. It’s the only time you’re ever truly free to experience life, and every woman should experience it before 30.
- Live life to the fullest; you can’t take stuff with you. This is one instance where our parents were wrong. Saving money for a rainy day is great, but, if you’re foregoing life experiences in order to save as much as possible, you’re missing out on what’s really important. Unfortunately, you don’t get to take your money or possessions with you when you die, so you might as well use your time and resources living the fullest life possible and collecting tons of entertaining stories.
- Your friends are the family you choose, so choose wisely. Just because someone is nice to you doesn’t mean they’re your friend. These days, frenemies are quite common. You have to be picky about who you choose to trust with your secrets.
- Your loved ones are the most valuable thing. The number one thing you should know by the time you’re 30 is that your relationships are so much more valuable than money or possessions. Don’t spend your life chasing money; spend it chasing love, friendship, and dreams because that’s where real joy is found.
