30 Life Lessons I Learned by 30

- September 18, 2025

I just turned 30!! A blessing to have made it this far in life. And a lot happened-- I graduated from college, I moved out of Alabama, I lived by myself for the first time, I started and ended jobs, I faced heartbreak, I lost friends, I lived through a global pandemic, I traveled, I met my future husband, and I got married. Crazy how much happened in the last decade but also cannot believe 10 years just flew by like that?!

I'm excited to start this new decade and I thought I would share 30 lessons I have learned in my 30 years around the sun. If you know about my annual "what I learned in 20--" posts, this will have some influence from those posts, but these are lessons that have truly impacted me over the years, even if some seem silly and light hearted.

1. Always personally invite someone to an event that you are hosting. Do not tell someone else to invite them.

2. If you do not want to do something and it’s up to you to decide whether or not to do it, do NOT feel peer pressured into doing it.

3. Start saving money at a young age and if you’re a parent, encourage your children to save. The gap between our salaries and cost of living is so much bigger than it was when we were kids. :’)

4. Follow the washing instructions on clothing. Especially on the more pricier clothing because your clothes might not actually get ruined after 2 washes.

5. Always journal your trips. You will enjoy reflecting back on the trip (India 2018 specifically).

6. There are friends who are only meant to be there for a chapter of your life and that is OKAY.

7. Always pack a toothpick in your purse if you’re going out anywhere that requires eating. You will probably get food stuck in your teeth at some point.

8. Network. Network. Network. Try to make connections with people you meet in life. You never know how they might be able help you in the future. Or you might be able to help them. There are people who get to certain places in life because they talked to the right person.

9. Follow your heart. It sounds cliché, but only YOU and God truly know your heart. It is good to get advice from others to help guide you, but ultimately follow your heart.

10. Manifest and speak positivity into the world, even if things are not going well. It will be difficult, but you attract what you put out into the world. When you lean towards being negative about life, you will attract negativity. When you lean towards being more positive, more positive things tend to happen.

11. Hard work does NOT always pay off. Don’t be lazy, but don’t be surprised if your hard work does not pay off all the time.

12. Buy travel-sized makeup instead of buying full-sized products. You mostly likely won’t go through a full-sized product before it goes bad and you end up throwing it out even though you only used it 5 times. Plus it’s better for your bank account.

13. Just because someone is insecure about a part of their body, does NOT mean you have to be insecure about that same part on your body either.

14. Always wear SPF. It’s the easiest way to prevent premature aging.

15. Drug, alcohol, and p*rn addictions are NOT the only addictions that exist. Be cautious of your habits.

16. Take social media fasts. It's good for your mental health. You don't have to be chronically online all the time.

17. Even if something is “out of style”, don’t worry it will come back around and be stylish again. You don’t have to get rid of everything in your closet just because it’s “out of style”. It’s only temporary.

18. Just get a gym membership. You are not going to work out at home.

19. Just because you are Christian, it does not automatically mean you’re a good person.

20. As I've grown older, I have learned that I’m not a “general admission” ticket person. Get me those assigned seats.

21. Do not unsubscribe from job-related emails from your former advisors in college.

22. Usually waiting in a long line for anything (especially food) ends up not being worth it.

23. Having parents who refused to buy every trendy item that kids were wearing at the time wasn't a bad thing. I am glad I was told "no" a lot growing up. It has made it less painful to be told "no" as an adult. (North Face jackets and Sperrys weren't cute anyways. #iykyk)

24. Do not feel the need to continuously sacrifice yourself in order to fit into someone else’s life. Especially if they don’t reciprocate. You have to protect your peace.

25. Comparison is the thief of joy. Your journey is YOUR journey. Their journey is THEIRS. Don't rush to do something because someone else is doing it.

26. Never say never. You might end up enjoying that one thing you never said you would do. (Example: running)

27. Making the decision to walk 10,000 steps every day for a month will change the trajectory of your life. Difficult, but it will be the best decision you'll ever make.

28. Cut those bangs and take those risks. Hair grows back. (Read this blog post for more detail)

29. You can be in the most beautiful place in the world but have the worst time because of the people you are with. You can also be in the worst place with the best people. The company you are with ALWAYS matters.

30. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” - Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27. No exceptions. Does not matter the skin color, poor, rich, sexual orientation, etc. No exceptions. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. And if people don’t agree with you on that, it is best to distance yourself from those people.

And that's a wrap. What have you guys learned in your life that has made an impact long-term? Comment below, I'm curious.

See you guys in the next post!