With my 24th birthday rapidly approaching, I cannot help but reflect on the life lessons 23 has brought me. Another year older, another year wiser, right? While I am sad to say goodbye to 23, I am equally excited to see what my 24th year on this earth has in store for me. And no, I am not talking about babies (sorry future Grandmas)
Without further adieu, here are 23 things I learned (about myself and beyond) while I was 23:
1. It is perfectly acceptable to have cereal for dinner when you’re too tired to cook. Nobody has to know, and it won’t kill you.
2. My house will never be as clean as I want it to be for more than one day, and I should probably stop trying to change that.
3. I am addicted to frozen yogurt. This was mere speculation for a while, but upon the establishment of a frozen yogurt joint within 3 miles from my house, it can now be considered fact.
4. Impatience is part of my DNA, and I seriously need to work on it.
5. Painting (walls) is a lot harder than it looks. It is also more expensive and time-consuming than people make it out to be.
6. Just because you feel something doesn’t make it true.
7. Washing your hair is overrated. Also overrated? Sleep.
8. The bond that forms between friends who pray for each other is not easily broken.
9. I complain way more than I should—I need to work on that as well.
10. Most of the beauty in this world goes unnoticed, but an obsession with photography can sometimes resolve that.
11. God will continue to test me, but he will never give me more than I can handle.
12. To be married to your best friend is one of the greatest gifts of life, and is not something you should take for granted.
13. I was meant to write. Jobs will come and go, but if I can write something for someone (even just myself), I’ll be okay.
14. Negativity does not belong in my life, nor do the friends or jobs who force it upon me.
15. Sometimes you have to say no.
16. I might need to check myself into computer rehab soon. Anyone else?
17. I absolutely love Sacramento (yes, I officially learned this while I was 23).
18. Friendship requires mutual effort between two people. It’s a give and take; not a give or take.
19. Words are useless without the actions to support them.
20. When I don’t succeed, I end up learning something—and that in itself, is valuable.
21. Good things come to those who wait. I suspect even better things come to those who wait patiently, but I wouldn’t know anything about that (see #4).
22. I am not ready to have a baby. But, I love all of my friends who are ready, and would like to thank them in advance for letting me enjoy their miracle(s) while I wait.
23. People change. Sometimes for the good, and other times not. Either way, it’s a part of life and the sooner I accept that, the better.
What did you learn when you were my age?
Image Courtesy: 1
Tags: birthday, learning, lessons, Life, reflection
I just entered the 23 club, I hope to learn as many things over this next year!
And No. 13 is *really* speaking to me at the moment
Wait, I’m older than you? DAMMIT lol. I la la love you and this post! Can’t wait for birthdayness at your house on Saturday. <3
Love this post. See you in computer rehab!
This was really interesting – I’m turning 22 soon and it’s interesting to compare my growing “23 things to do before 23″ list to a “23 things being 23 taught me” list. Thanks for posting and inspiring.
I am so excited for you and you embark on 24! 23 was a huge year for me as well…finished grad school, moved back to California, got married, moved to Davis, got my first full-time job. It really only gets better from 23 on
happy early birthday, ashlee!
i can agree with a lot of these things. but, i would LOVE to see how you feel about # 7 AFTER you have a baby.
sleep is most definitely not over rated. enjoy it while you can. haha! 
Happy Early Birthday.
I am with you on #4, 6, 15 and 23. 23 is a really hard one to accept.
I feel like 30 is finally my year to be true to myself. 29 taught me that not everything can or should be sugar-coated. I also learnt that all hard conversations must be conducted face-to-face.
I think you have inspired to write a list of 30 things I have learnt in the last year.
Thanks for being such a fantastic writer. Keep it up.
XOXO
Sari
I’m so glad I got the chance to meet you this past year, and I can’t wait for your party tomorrow.
I don’t know if I’m just super emotional today or what, but for some reason this list made me get all teary eyed. I especially liked- 8. The bond that forms between friends who pray for each other is not easily broken.
When I turned 23 I was in the midst of turning my life completely around, and I guess this list just made me think of how many things I’ve learned since then. It’s all because I have people like you and Liz in my life.
Well, I guess that last part didn’t show up… but I tried to write “end sappy ashley” in brackets. I think it took it as a code haha, I fail at computers.
Ash, your comment made me happy
I am also so glad we are friends!
Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts with me. I love learning from all of you….
Ash, loved your list of things you have learned this past year. Number 12 is near and dear to my heart as well. I can hardly believe that you are turning 24 tomorrow!! Love you.
“5. Painting (walls) is a lot harder than it looks.”
Really? You were looking pretty hard. Remember when I almost fell off the ladder?
In all fairness … you did pick out the colors which is almost half the battle.
Love you!
PS1 – When I was your age … I was proposal scheming. Like a champ.
PS2 – You’re officially 24 in a large majority of the world right now. Get excited.
Ah, #2, #15, #16, and #18…right there with ya!
These lessons are soo good. Especially the one about you being meant to write. That is clearly true.. I would love to do something like this for my birthday.. 22 on the way..
Oh and seven is so true. Sleep is so overrated, here I am pulling an all nighter…
Best,
Hannah Katy