Like I mentioned last week, as I turn 29 this month, there has been so much I’ve learned in my 29 years. But there is so much left for me to learn. Things I’ve started to learn and want to learn but I haven’t finished convincing myself of just yet.

This list is a bit more abbreviated, just a list without explanations, because I am still learning these pieces of myself. But I wanted to make this list, even in imperfection. It seemed important to give words to the feelings I am still trying to process. And it seemed important to show myself how much life still stands before me.

Like I’ve learned in my 29 years, there is so much left to learn. I am not done growing. And here is proof:

1. How to stop comparing myself to others.

2. How to be okay with whatever pace my life takes.

3. How to say no. And how not to.

4. The fear of loss does not make loving less worthwhile.

5. Sometimes, you can’t protect yourself from hurt, no matter what you do.

6. Life cannot be measured. Not with years. Not with progress.

7. There is no such thing as a normal life.

8. Take time to just be.

9. What I want my life to be.

10. How to avoid the poison parts of my addictive personality - stop playing the game when it stops being fun, stop eating the candy if you don’t like it anymore.

11. You don’t have to understand every inside joke, every change in slang, every piece of news to be a part of the conversation.

12. How to avoid wasting time on people who don’t want the best for you.

13. Patience.

14. How to not feel ashamed every time I spend money.

15. How to feel confident in my skin more days than not.

16. I am good enough.

17. How to take a day off.

18. How to wake up in the morning feeling at peace (instead of the chaos of anxiety I feel now)

19. Not everyone has to love you.

20. How to not shame myself for mistakes I make.

21. How to not depend on others to define my self-worth.

22. How to establish a sustainable and mentally-healthy work-life balance

23. How to make better coffee at home.

24. To make more art

25. When my ambition makes me more unhappy than happy.

26. How to travel (when I decide I want to)

27. How to not be constantly tired

28. How not to plan too far ahead

29. Passable Polish
    

Truly, if you’ve never written a list like this, do it. I recommend it. Recognize how far you’ve come and how much further you would like to travel. You can’t reach a destination without a destination in mind.

And there are clearly many more places I wish to go.