For the past few years, I have been writing down milestone lessons I’ve learned that year, thinking it would be a cool thing for my kids to read someday. It’s something I started on my 30th birthday and I’m continuing the tradition this year.
What I learned at 32:
When you’re scared of trying something new, remember this: everyone doing it well was once a beginner. There’s literally no exception to this lesson. When you’re walking into a room scared to death of being the new person (spin class comes to the top of my mind) and you feel like everyone else confidently knows what they’re doing, it’s an important lesson to remember. The experts you’re intimidated by were once standing in your shoes.
When you want someone to do something for you, find the value for THEM. THIS. SO MUCH THIS. I’ve been on both sides of this lesson. I am CONSTANTLY pitching myself and this blog as a brand. On the other hand, I’m also pitched a lot of different things to feature on my social media accounts. When successful partnerships happen, there is always something in it for each party. That’s really with any partnership in life, personal or professional. You may not have a bajillion dollar marketing budget, but do you have an email list you can offer to promote someone on? Can you tie in someone’s charity? When you’re asking someone to do you a favor or begin a partnership, what can you offer them?
Show grace to yourself and others. I’ll admit, I used to be a person who would have a negative run-in with someone and think, “wow, that person is an a-hole.” It doesn’t even have to be someone you know. Often, it’s people we don’t know, such as the person taking the parking spot we’ve been waiting on or someone not holding the door for us. The truth is, we don’t know what those people are going through. Years ago, I made a Target run the day after we put my dog Blair down, then someone sent me an Instagram message later that day saying, “I saw you at Target. You looked miserable.”
All I could think to say was, “I am miserable. I put my dog down yesterday.”
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking this year about how I would feel if someone judged me on my worst day. Keep that thought in your brain and act accordingly the next time you get cut off in traffic or encounter someone you think is being rude.
Showing yourself grace is equally as important as showing others grace. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a rough day and refused to allow myself to skip a workout, eat a cupcake, or take a nap. Be kind to yourself. Take time for yourself. Show yourself some love because you deserve it.