Welcoming A New Decade: 10 Lessons Learnt In My 20s

It’s my 30th birthday! It may be an unpopular opinion but I’m actually excited for this milestone because I view ageing as a blessing, including all the quirks and more importantly, the lessons which come with it. I’ve been blessed to learn and grow so much in my 20s. Also, this blog has played an integral role in my growth and development as I started it at age 21! It saw me through loss, breakups and grief, but also through successes like graduations, home ownership and now as a happy newlywed wife. My twenties were filled with ups and downs but I’m leaving them better than I started. Cheers to 30, and here are the most important lessons I learnt in my 20s.

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1. Take Risk.

I’ve done some pretty risky things in this life like parasailing, or buying a house with a man I’d only known for a year. Why? An opportunity to purchase a fixer-upper presented itself and neither of us could afford it individually. Three years and six countries later, we’re happily married and that home we renovated has brought us so much joy plus brings our families and friends together. My 20s taught me that when opportunity presents itself: think it through, pray, weigh the pros and cons and trust your gut.

2. Set Clear Boundaries.

No has become my favourite word as it allows me to maintain my peace. Extra shift? No. Hanging out late? No. Brand invite which clashes with sleep or work? No. Extra committee or role? No! Some may view me as selfish or antisocial for it. I view it as self respect.

3. Care Less About What People Think.

What people think of you is their business, NOT yours. It’s a lesson I’m still learning, but too many people waste time worrying about what will people think and end up unhappy as a result. I’ve grown better at caring less about what people will think in my 20s but I still have some ways to go.

4. Dream Big.

You can’t get big things done while thinking small. I’ve suffered from impostor syndrome in my career (I’m one of the youngest consultant physicians in Jamaica), and I used to worry how would anyone take me credibly as a travel blogger who still hasn’t visited dozens of countries. But, dreaming big and showing up works. The more you dream big and show up, is the more likely you are to achieve things beyond your wildest imagination– in my case, finishing residency at 29, and visiting places I’d only read about in books or seen on TV/social media. If you can think it and believe it, you can achieve it.

5. Don’t Be Afraid Of Mistakes.

Mistakes are a normal part of life. It’s how you learn and grow from them which matter. I’ve certainly made quite a few, but thankfully seldom repeated any.

6. Have Fun.

My biggest fear is not living life to its fullest, so I make time for enjoyment as often as possible. I think everyone should do this, especially if they realized how short and fleeting life is.

7. Slow Down & Reflect.

I don’t do this as often as I should, but I understand the importance now. So much clarity and peace comes from slowing down and just existing. Capitalism promotes hustle culture, burnout and exhaustion so no wonder there’s a rise in both physical and mental illness globally. Slowing down and reflection is important for wellness, so I aim to do more of this in my 30s. True to my word, I’m ringing in my 30s after a two-month career break that wasn’t fully planned, but certainly welcomed!

8. Never Stop Learning.

The world is dynamic and always changing, so it’s important to always keep learning. This doesn’t have to be formal education either, but keep reading and stay informed about as many topics as possible.

9. Be Careful About What You Share.

The sad reality is that not everyone who knows you or views your content means you well, and people sometimes ruin things. As much as one should be careful about the content they consume, be careful about the content you share. My online presence is carefully and thoughtfully curated.

10. We’re All Running Our Own Race.

We’re all running unique races. Everyone has different upbringings, struggles, limitations, values, beliefs, moral compasses etc. As such, don’t ever compare yourself to other people as you don’t know the full story. Water your own grass, and run your own race well. 🙂

Wrap Up

By time you’re reading this, I’m hopefully climbing up a volcano with GetYourGuide. I have been looking forward to this since 2024 when the idea first popped into my head to celebrate my 30th in a big way. Some big goals I have planned for this decade are visiting:

• Europe (especially Italy & France)
• Africa (especially Ghana & Tanzania for Mt Kilimanjaro)
• The remaining 5 countries of Central America I haven’t yet visited (namely Costa Rica, El Salvador, Belize, Nicaragua and Honduras)
• My first cruise– probably the most cost-effective way to explore the eastern Caribbean from Jamaica
• At least 2 more World Wonders to bring my count to 4/7. I’ll likely make it to Christ the Redeemer in Rio and Colosseum in Rome before the others.

But, let’s see! Life happens while you’re making plans because in the end, I only did 14 things from my 30 before 30 bucket list, and I no longer have interest in doing several activities from that list anyway. Thanks for reading and cheers to where my 30s will take me.

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