Life at 25

They say by 25 the best of life has come and gone.

Well, I guess I had a good run. In my quarter-century, I’ve had my share of successes and failures. Part of growing up is that you get smarter and wiser. Life becomes more predictable, there are fewer surprises and you can handle yourself well in stressful situations.

I’ve learned some lessons from those that came before and learned others the hard way.

If you’re on the way up, maybe some of these will help:

Wherever you go, there you are

Sometimes in life, it’s your environment or the people around you that are problematic. But more often than not, it’s you. Your life won’t magically improve because you switch jobs, cities, friend groups or get a new wardrobe. That’s because, wherever you go, there you are. And you will probably mess things up as usual. The parts of you that are problematic remain with you unless you work to address and fix them.

Habits are what carry you through your twenties

In your early twenties, you are largely a product of where you grew up, what you studied in school, and who you surrounded yourself with. What changes after you leave school is that you usually work 8 hours a day, sleep 8 hours a day and have another 8 hours to use as you wish. By the time you reach 30 you are largely a product of what you do during those last 8 hours, the habits you form, the media you consume, day after day, year after year.

Do it badly

In high school, I was fortunate enough to meet a wonderful teacher that taught me the importance of working like a professional. This is an excellent mentality to have, except when it comes to creative work. What stands in the way of creativity is usually the professional and perfectionist tendencies. We all have creative projects that have been on the backburner for years. When it comes to creative work, do it badly. If you find yourself procrastinating, do it badly. Forget professionalism, forget perfectionism just aim to do it badly. And then do it again. Even if you only end up doing it once, 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing.

Hard work, works

In a world of life hacks, 16-year-old millionaires, gurus, and the endless roulette YouTubers with everything figured out it always seem like there is more to watch, read, or learn before getting started. Sometimes these “hacks” work but more often than not they are a waste of time. Hard work, works. Usually, it’s best to just get started and figure things out as you go.

Don’t set yourself on fire to keep others warm.

Sometimes we burn ourselves out for the comfort of others. Usually when those “others” would never do the same. Say no more often and do it unapologetically.

If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, go together

Both options exist and both serve there purpose. There is a time to go fast and a time to go far. Understand your objective and move accordingly.

If you are sitting in a restaurant and you don’t like the music, ask them to turn it off. They always do and no one seems to mind.

Make time for fitness or make time for sickness

Anytime anyone says they don’t have time what they are saying is that they have other priorities. That includes staying fit. Don’t aspire to one day be fit. Make being fit part of your life. Or don’t. Instead, make time for sickness. Make time for disease. Make time for doctor visits, pharmacy trips, waiting rooms, physiotherapy… You get the point.

There are no time machines, so fix it next time

There are no time machines in life. There is only a present moment. When you make a mess, clean it. When you say something you shouldn’t have, apologize. You will save yourself the regret of wishing you did.

Don’t cast pearls to swine

Sometimes you have to let people make their own mistakes. Don’t give people advice that they don’t ask for. When the student becomes ready, the teacher appears.

There is no good or bad life. There are choices and consequences

At the end of the day, we are all self-made and we are all responsible for our own lives. Vision and foresight are choices. Leaving a group of friends is a choice. Moving out is a choice. The opposite are choices as well. All of them have their consequences.

Another year ends and another one begins. Along with everything else, remember that you only get one life, so enjoy it as it happens.

In the words of Atmosphere:

We ought to stop and start smelling these flowers, Before the world reminds us that it’s not really ours.

They say by 25 the best of life has come and gone. Well, not for all of us.

Keep me in your prayers and check out what I learned at 23 and 24.