30 things it took me 10,958 days to learn

Today is my 30th birthday. Some people think turning 30 makes you old and other people think 30 is the new 20. I have no real opinion about whether turning 30 means you are young or old, but I can say I’ve learned a lot of things in the last 10,958 days [30 years].

1. Things are often very unfair but we do not have to accept unfairness, we can fight for what we believe in and stand up for ourselves. When I would get upset about unjust life circumstances the adults in my life would simply tell me that things weren’t ever going to be fair and that I’d simply have to accept this. I’m not a confrontational person so I did accept this and I rarely stood up for myself. As I got older I began to question why I had to succumb to constant pitfalls and terrible life circumstances while others unfairly got ahead. Things may not be fair but we do not have to accept that and we all have the right to stand up for ourselves. Don’t let people walk all over you and don’t let people tell you that you just have to deal with unjust treatment.
2. Deep conditioning is a real thing. Sadly, I never understood the concept of deep conditioning my hair until very recently. It has been a game changer.
3. If you know what you are passionate about do not let anyone tell you not to follow that passion. No one else is living your life except you. Personal happiness is the most important thing.
4. Just because you didn’t do something when you wanted to doesn’t mean you can’t ever do it. If you really want to do something you can find a way even if it is terrifyingly difficult.
5. Everything in life is temporary even if it always feels the same. Day after day things change even if we don’t notice them right away.
6. Maintaining friendships can be very challenging. Some friendships are circumstantial, some are purposeful, some are lifelong, some are intermittent, and others are very brief. People grow apart and that is okay. In the end each friendship is meaningful and worth it to me.
7. Spinach is actually really good. As a kid I hated spinach because it looked like soggy leaves and it tasted like dirt. As an adult who has an iron deficiency I love spinach and I eat it very often .
8. Stress can be reduced by determining what we have control over and what we do not have control over.
9. Doing things you are terrified to do is exhilarating!
10. Making sacrifices can set you up for success if you make them under the right circumstances.
11. Women deserve everything that men do. It took me the first 20 years of my life to understand this and the next 5 to be comfortable fighting for equality for myself and other women. Now, I won’t back down on this issue. We [women] need to be more proactive when it comes to mentoring young girls. We need to teach them that they do not have to settle.
12. The blue Gatorade is actually the best gatorade. I used to think the lemon lime was the best. I was wrong for so many years.
13. Letting go is the most liberating thing we can do. I’ve had to let go of so many grudges and it is the most freeing feeling I know.
14. Running isn’t everything. I am more than just a runner and I am more than just an athlete. People are multidimensional.
15. Not everyone one will agree with you and you will not agree with everyone. I hate when people disagree and then try to convince the other person to change their opinions and beliefs. Let that go. We are allowed to disagree. I have no right to try to change your beliefs and opinions and you have no right to try to change mine.
16. Left handed people wear their watches on their right wrist and right handed people wear their watches on their left wrist. I am right handed and wear my watch on my right wrist. I’ve been doing this wrong for so long and I cannot change it now!
17. You can get sunburn on a cloudy day. You can also get sunburn on a chilly, windy day.
18. The more advanced technology becomes the more complicated our passwords will become. When I created my first email address in 6th grade (1998) my password was “kitten”. Now my passwords are so complicated that I don’t even know what they are…..
19. There is no reason to do things that cause unhappiness.
20. The bigger the purse or bag the more trash and junk I will haul around…..I don’t know what to do about this. Nothing fits in my small bags.
21. In recent years I’ve noticed that people think CDs are antiquated……..
22. Uncomfortable shoes are overrated and should only be worn if you will be sitting still the entire time. I’m so over uncomfortable fancy shoes. #runningshoeseveryday
23. The dollar sign goes before the number and not after. I used to write 100$ and not $100.
24. Trust is hard to gain and easy to lose.
25. Gratitude will always give us everything we need, and more.
26. Difficulty does not define us and adversity does not own us. The past is not necessarily our future.
27. All experiences are valuable even if they aren’t good experiences.
28. You don’t have to be confident to act confident, but you have to act confident to be confident.
29. There is no real reason to separate laundry if you wash everything in cold water. Trust me, I do this all the time and my white shirts never turn red or pink.
30. 30 doesn’t feel any different than 29