27 Things I learnt by my 27th Bday!

Happy Birthday to me!

I recently turned 27, and took the much-awaited solo trip. While a few of my friends joined me for the first 3 days, I spent the next 5, by the beach, trying to figure out what the last 27 years had taught me. So here’s my list for you and so is a picture of me having the time of my life at a fantastic seaside restaurant on my birthday eve!

The author enjoying her favorite drink by the ocean.

1. Acceptance. If you’re accepting all that’s happening to you, chances of you going through heartbreak are bleak.
2. People always disappoint. But that doesn’t mean you lose trust in them. You learn to forgive and forget, even when they’re not seeking forgiveness.
3. Love always wins. Love is truly the only feeling that gives you hope and happiness. And, love always wins. It is the one feeling in this world, that you’ll seldom regret experiencing.
4. Being grateful for everyday is a blessing. Everyday is a new day for you to live life and learn to be there for yourself.
5. If you think you know yourself, the joke’s on you. We are all constantly evolving, and we’re allowed to change our opinions on things. So please stop believing that you think you know yourself and live everyday.
6. Watering dead plants is pointless, so is watering dead relationships. It doesn’t matter if the relationship is parental or spouse or whoever. Once dead, it’s pointless to water it.
7. No one’s coming to save you, you got to be that person for yourself. Having emotional dependency on people is a blessing. But don’t let it determine how you feel about them being there for you. Live each day fully and be the person who saves themselves.
8. Don’t stress over things you can’t control. If you know me, you know I preach this non-stop. I’ve learnt the hard way that stressing over things you can’t control is actually very very stressful.
9. Let go. As importance as it is to hold on to love, it is also important to let go when it no longer serves you.
10. Decide what you want and go for it. I decide and act on what I want immediately on most days.
11. Start taking responsibility for your actions. If you’re wrong, that’s alright, own it and move on.
12. Cut the blame game. So what if something wrong happened in your life? You can’t keep blaming other people for the things that are wrong in your life. Just take responsibility and move on.
13. Celebrate love. And no, I just don’t mean your own relationships. Your ex is getting married? Be genuinely happy for him. Your best friend found her dream guy? Celebrate other people’s love. It’s okay if you’re still single or struggling, that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the other people in your life.
14. Give people chances. Yes, the world is a dark place and not everyone wants what’s the best for you, but give people chances. There is so much good in the world. Let them surprise you.
15. Follow your passion. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is. If you’re passionate about something, go full out at it and let the universe take it’s course.
16. Follow a fitness routine. I wish I’d started this sooner in life. Having a routine helps you stay fit mentally and also keeps you healthy. Pls follow one.
17. Journal. Writing in a journal has insurmountable benefits. Keep one and write in it to your heart’s will. You will thank me later.
18. Be vulnerable. It’s okay if people think you’re silly and naïve. That doesn’t mean you’ve to put on a show. Just be vulnerable and let people see you. The universe will reward you for being real.
19. Don’t be afraid of cloudy days. Life’s a rollercoaster, and a lot of your decisions will not result in the ways that you expect them to, so take it all in your stride and live freely.
20. Be your own hero. I love this one because I absolutely wasn’t someone who was independent. I’ve learnt to be independent financially and emotionally in the last one year and I absolutely love the person I became.
21. Don’t give up on the things that kept you happy as a kid. Remember how much you loved reading or playing a sport? The pure happiness that it brought you, just keep at it. I read over 30 books annually and run and both these things help keep me mentally sane.
22. Save money. Shoes, clothes and bags are material things that will bring you temporary happiness. If you have the luxury of saving money, invest it.
23. Live through experiences. Have conversations. Talk to people and understand where they’re coming from. Learn new perspectives and live it all fully. Accept all of it whole heartedly and learn.
24. Learn. Whether it’s about your job or about a something else that you’re willing to take up. Learn about your favorite band and about your favorite sport. Learn about the new market trends and more. Always open your eyes and ears towards learning new things. Upskill. Upskill like a boss. Upskill every week. Do courses, read stuff. It’s all very important.
25. Have a side hustle. No. it doesn’t have to be huge and certainly doesn’t have to give you a lot of money, but have a side hustle where you work for yourself. It will satisfy you like nothing else.
26. Be kinder always. Anytime you’re making a snarky comment, think if you could act differently. It is imperative that you understand the importance of your words and act on them.
27. Be kindest to yourself. Stop being harsh and rude to the person you are. You are human, and you’re allowed to act out or maybe not be the best version of yourself. That doesn’t mean you’ve to be an ass to yourself or be harsh. Be kind. You’ve only yourself in the end. :)

These are my top 27 learnings. I’d love to hear what helped you become a better version of yourself.