Quarter Century Life Lessons

On November 13th, 2020, I officially lived for a quarter century. 2020 has really been a memorable year to say the least and I'm happy to say that I am proud of my personal and professional growth so far. Since I am now 25 years old, I am obviously so much more wiser now with a lot more wisdom compared to when I was 24, here are 25 personal life lessons in no particular order:

1. Self care includes eating healthy meals, drinking water, getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night, exercising regularly, and surrounding yourself with positive influences. Take care of your body's basic functions first before tackling life's other challenges.

2. I don't have to fit in, there is a lot of joy in my individuality. I spent too much of my younger years trying to be like other people instead of building myself up.

3. Realizing your strengths isn't being conceited, it is a part of being self aware and brings a lot of confidence in myself. Dial into your strengths and work on your weaknesses.

4. Don't take things so personally or assume people's intentions. 99% of the time it has nothing to do with me. Communication is key here.

5. Anxiety is a survival mechanism that I can use for my benefit and gives me a great attention for detail. It doesn't have to be a weakness. Also therapy is amazing.

6. Don't fight for people's attention. If there is genuine connection they will reciprocate. Life is too short to put energy into people who won't give me the time of day. It's okay to not click with everybody.

7. Don't be afraid to show your appreciation for the ones that you love or care for. Check-in, keep in touch, ask to grab coffee sometime, wish them a happy holiday or birthday.

8. Growth is often painful and uncomfortable but it is so worth it and rewarding. I would go through the hard times all over again because I'm proud of my progress.

9. Graphic design is visual problem solving, not just making things look pretty. Design is so much more meaningful when there is a purpose behind it.

10. There are going to be so many times where I doubt my skills and creativity. But as long that I stay honest to myself and follow my passions and curiosity, it will work out. There will be people out there who will enjoy my creations even if I'm not where I want to be yet.

11. Friendships are just as rewarding, even more at times, as romantic relationships. I am so fortunate to feel socially satisfied with the friendships that I have.

12. I am an independent, hard-working, and capable woman who will fight for what I want. I taught myself Photoshop at 12 years old, I got a 4.0 GPA in high school with no tutoring or help from parents, got in my first choice college on my own, survived college with little to no financial help from my parents, got my first job out of college through luck and my own merit, and moved to the Bay Area on my own. I will be proactive on the things that I want.

13. Setting boundaries is healthy and not selfish. The people who care for me will respect my boundaries and I should feel comfortable vocalizing my boundaries.

14. Comparing myself to others is ALWAYS a bad idea. Comparison is the death of happiness. No negative self talk up in here!

15. I am lucky enough to find my self-worth in my early 20s and now I refuse to settle for less. I know that am a good friend, family member, employee, and partner.

16. My frizzy hair was just wavy hair that needed more moisture and care. Thank goodness for the Curly Girl Method!

17. My family survived the Cambodian Genocide and really achieved the American dream. I am so proud of them and they did the best they could in raising my sisters and I with the tools that they had.

18. Do things because it's the right thing to do, not because you expect something from it. Don't make actions or relationships transactional.

19. Have your actions match your words/follow through on your promises and people will notice. Don't promise things that you know you can't follow through on.

20. Empathy is honestly a super power. It makes everybody 3D and gives me a better understanding of the people around me. It makes me less angry at the world and at life in-general.

21. Learn to appreciate your body and its capabilities. It's normal to have some lower belly fat and you don't have to conform to society's standard of beauty.

22. It's much easier to exercise regularly if you genuinely enjoy the work-outs. I love Zumba and kick-box cardio. Pilates is starting to grow on me since I've been getting stronger and it's toning up my muscles! But also exercise to build long term, healthy habits and not just for vanity.

23. It's okay to change your look! Feeling good about how you look on the outside will help about how you feel about yourself on the inside.

24. You will go through tragedy in your life, but you get through it. You always do. There's so much to look forward to in the future and you have an amazing support system if you choose to utilize it.

25. Don't let fear get in the way of accomplishing your goals or getting what you want. The most rewarding moments in my life are when I went through with things that I was scared of doing because I was worried about failure or what people would think. But if there is fear, it is likely that there is a lot to gain as well.

Sometimes I feel all wise and old but my co-workers like to regularly remind/humble me that I am still young and have so much life to live. I feel so grateful that I'm only at the beginning of my journey. I can't wait to look back in another quarter century and witness my growth. Aging and time is so precious, I never want to take it for granted.

Below are some memories during my first quarter century, also not in any particular order.

Thanks for reading!

Until next time my friend,

Amanda ^_^