27 Things I Learned in 27 Years
2 min readAug 7, 2019
- Say ‘thank you’ always, and quickly when you mean it most.
- Perhaps a little girl could benefit more from hearing “You’re so creative!” Or, “Wow, you seem so joyful!” than “You look so pretty in that dress!”
- Print out simple things like where the laundry basket is, and the Wi-Fi password, and put them on display in the guest bathroom. It makes everything easier.
- When someone tries to pay you back for a kindness, ask them to pay it forward into the world.
- Make sure the people you love know this. Make sure they know it always, repeatedly, without doubt. Make sure that they also know it’s more than just words.
- Talk to children in your adult voice.
Answer the questions they ask responsibly, and clearly. - When you get an upsetting email or text message, take an entire hour to respond.
- If it’s too long to text — don’t text. Call instead.
- If you’re unable to be both productive and kind, ask to postpone the discussion.
- Cry. Whenever and wherever you need to. Especially happy tears.
- Don’t leave knives, cutting boards or trays dirty.
- Be able to understand what your mechanic is saying.
- Be able to understand a balance sheet.
- Before you ask for help, ask yourself if you can do this reasonably well in a reasonable amount of time. If not, ask for help.
- Your personal style will evolve. It’s okay to let go of old things you no longer love — even if they were pricey, even if they are still in good shape, even if they’re great quality.
- When people say you’ve changed, recognize that that was literally the entire point. Growth means change.
- When you are unhappy, it is okay to leave.
- When you leave by accident, it is okay to ask to come back.
- To be cherished is a privilege; be gentle with those who give it to you.
- Gratitude is a muscle you must build so it can serve you when you need it.
- Patience is a skill, and the hardest to master, but yields the most significant results.
- Actively manage your narrative — what are you showing yourself and others about who you are?
- It’s okay to like the internet. Think about what you’re doing with it.
- Make more time to read.
- Wake up early. No, earlier.
- An apology is more than the word ‘sorry’.
Think about this every time you want to apologize. - Show up when it matters to the people that matter to you. Also, in general, just show up.
