c/o Chicwish lemon dress, Design Darling earrings, old clutch (similar), Louise et Cie pumps, Nars Schiap lipstick, c/o Ben Amun ring, Ray Ban aviators
Today is a day that, 10 years ago, I thought I would dread. Today I’m turning 30. Today, I’m more than excited for the next decade. In the next decade I hope to start a family, buy my first home, grow my blog and career, and generally kick some ass (If all goes to plan!).
Looking back on my 20s, I feel so proud of where I’ve come. I graduated from college (which feels like a lifetime ago) and have worked at 3 incredible companies, growing my career from a sales assistant at Condé Nast to Sales Director at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition to running my own business to being the Marketing Director at Nourish Snacks today. I moved three times from LA to NYC (I survived 4 tiny apartments on the Upper East Side) to CT. I broke up with a boyfriend that I didn’t like very much at all, dated some horrifying human beings in New York and then met and married the love of my life. I watched my family fall apart when my parents divorced and then watched it build back into something new and different. Then I became a big sister again! I started Lemon Stripes (Fun fact: It was first named Lemons & Loafers) and grew it into a blog that I’m so proud of. I also have gotten a better handle on my anxiety and sleeping issues and have learned to care a whole lot less about what other people think.
Everyone says that your 30s are so much better than your 20s because you’re more comfortable in your own skin and more confident as a person. Those are two things that in the last few months I’ve started to feel and I look forward to seeing how those feelings continue to grow.
In the meantime, I thought I’d share a few important lessons that I learned in my 20s. In other news, how perfect is this dress?
Compromise
When you get married, you’re forced to learn about compromise. Otherwise the relationship is pretty much destined to go up in flames. My husband and I are both great communicators but compromise was tough for us for a long time We’re both stubborn, type-A leaders but when we realized that having our own way all the time harmed our relationship, we wizened up and now have a pretty good balance of give and take. This took almost 5 years for us to figure out!
Let it go
I still have trouble with this but I’m learning to stop sweating the small stuff. In the long run, it’s not worth it.
Eat the effing cookie
Taking care of your body is hugely important but once in a while it’s ok to indulge. One cookie will NOT make you fat I promise. Sometimes you have to live a little.
But don’t have that last drink
When I’m out drinking with friends there is always a tipping point where I am pretty tipsy but just want to stay for one more drink. I’ve learned in the last few years that it’s usually not worth it when I’m hungover the next day at work. I’ve realized that if I’m not ready to go home, it’s ok to get a club soda or a glass of water with lemon and stay a little longer. You can still have fun without drinking more than you need to.
Appreciating alone time
In college and my early 20s, I always surrounded myself with friends. I’d go out on nights when I was exhausted just to be around people! Today, I appreciate alone time and definitely don’t feel like a “loser” when I spend nights on my own. Quite the opposite in fact.
Success takes work
Whether it’s a job, a blog, a friendship, a relationship, or a home, if you want success in any area of life, you have to hustle. Success isn’t about luck or charm, it’s about working your ass off… With a little bit of luck and charm thrown in of course.
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