I Turned 36: 36 Mindfulness Lessons That Made This My Best Year Yet
36 lessons to bring calm, strength, and growth to your life.
Every year on my birthday, I do something special to reflect and reset. I call it the birthday reflection. It’s simple: look back on the past year and write down one meaningful lesson for each year of your age. If you’re turning 20, you jot down 20 lessons. If you’re 50, you write 50.
At first, it feels tricky — what if I run out of ideas? But as the years go by, I’ve found it actually gets easier. Age brings wisdom (or at least more opportunities to learn from our mistakes).
Here are 36 lessons that brought me more joy and calm, and I hope they can do the same for you.
#1 The inner work never stops. No matter how far you’ve come, there will always be a new challenge waiting for you. But that’s the beauty of it — we’re here to grow, to stretch, and to rise. Every challenge is a step toward becoming the best version of yourself.
#2 Gratitude has the power to transform even the hardest moments into blessings. When life feels heavy, pause and look for the silver lining — it’s always there, waiting to be discovered. Practicing gratitude isn’t just a habit; it’s a quiet superpower that can unlock a deeper, happier life.
