20 THINGS I LEARNED IN MY TWENTIES

As I rang in my 30's with the expansive ocean sitting in front of me, I reflected on all the things I'd learned in my twenties. Believe it or not, I started my twenties out as a miserable, slightly-depressed, incredibly self-conscious disordered eater who thought she'd never be loveable. 

I wanted to share some of the realizations I had throughout the decade:

1. I can handle a lot more than I think I can. We all can. 

2. Being pessimistic, angry, grumpy and shut down is no way to live life. Opening up to pain IS opening up to love.

3. Choosing yourself, your dreams, and your own path is one of the scariest and most rewarding things you can do.

4. We have way more time than we pretend to on a day-to-day basis, and way less time than we think we do in the grand scheme of things.

5. Love at first sight DOES exist, and so does falling in love with someone you vowed you'd never even date.

6. Finding out "who you are" is a lifelong process -- one we'll have the answer to all along.

7. A spiritual life is far more comforting + expansive than pretending we know everything as humans.

8. The quiet can be so scary and so necessary.

9. I am not my mind.

10. There are people who can love me unconditionally by choice, and it's pretty astounding.

11. Being in a good mood for no reason is just as possible as being in a bad mood for no reason.

12. Sometimes it takes years of hiding to finally let yourself be seen.

13. Being uber sensitive is a gift, not a curse.

14. We impact people more than we give ourselves credit for.

15. There is beauty everywhere, and we DO have the power to look at things like we've never seen them before.

16. Being kind to others is one of the best feelings.

17. Being vulnerable on purpose is one of the strongest things one can do.

18. The best contract you'll ever sign is a commitment to your dreams. 

19. Health is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

20. Everything is always okay, even when it's not. 

What have been some of your biggest life realizations or lessons? 

xx, Alexandra