22 valuable life lessons I learned in 2022

As I reflect back on the past year, I am reminded of all the good memories, the amazing new places I visited, & the new friends I made. But I am also reminded of the lessons I learned that have made me into who I am today. Some I had to relearn from years before, & some are new life lessons in my 24th year of life.

These 22 lessons are ones that have changed the way I view myself & the world around me, & my hope is to carry them into my next year of life.

Read on for the 22 lessons I learned this year, & leave a lesson you learned in the comments! Let’s all share some of our wisdom from the past year.

1. My emotional health is my responsibility. Boundaries are healthy, even with the people we love.

2. Adult friends are hard to make. It’s easier when you take the initiative to invite people out for a cup of coffee.

3. However, not everyone likes coffee (I know, shocking). It makes it less awkward if you have a second place in mind as a back-up.

4. It’s okay to treat yourself every once in a while. It’s okay to treat yourself every day. It’s okay to treat yourself whenever you feel like it. It’s okay to treat yourself…period.

5. Getting up early to exercise is self-care. Sleeping in a little more is also self-care. Figure out what it is your body needs.

6. My body this year has more curves & less muscle tone than it ever has. It is also my most loved body. It is still strong & nimble, but it has also been given space & time to rest. Your most loved body does not have to look like what other people consider healthy.

7. The people you have the hardest time understanding are the people you should take more time to understand.

8. Introversion & extroversion is a scale. We all need alone time, & we all need time spent with the people we love.

9. Lots of people are opinionated. The goal is not to find people without opinions – it is to find people who are willing to learn & not push their opinions on others. You should try to be this kind of person, too.

10. Compassion & empathy are different, & each one has its place.

11. You are who your younger self needed.

12. But also, it is okay if there are things about you your younger self would not be proud of. You are still growing, & also, your younger self did not know everything.

13. Three of the best things we can give ourselves: Movement, sunlight & water. These can also be called love, light & nourishment.

14. The word “no” does not always have to be followed by “I’m sorry.” Sometimes just “no” is sufficient.

15. You’re welcome is not the only way to respond to “thank you.””My pleasure,” “of course,” or (my favorite) “I love you” are much better choices.

16. It does not matter how slow you go. The miles pass anyway, & the finish line is still there when you reach the end.

17. You know the things you are willing to lose sleep over because they make you so happy & excited? Fill your life with more of those things.

18. Forgive yourself for any unhealthy habits you picked up when you were in survival mode. They helped you make it through to where you are now.

19. But also, just because those habits served you then does not mean they are serving you now. You do not have to keep doing them. Have grace for yourself in the process of letting them go.

20. It is okay if people do not understand why you love your passions. Do them anyway.

21. Dairy is not good for you. Also, I am going to eat dairy until the day I die.

22. It is okay if you look different now than you did going into the pandemic. Believe it or not, it has been a few years. And none of us were prepared for that.