26 Lessons in 26 Years

In honor of my 26th birthday, I decided to share 26 life lessons I've learned so far. Most of them are pretty cliché, but if you're looking for some mid-week motivation, look no further! :)

1. Nothing ever goes as planned... ever
2. Hustle: All day, every day
3. Be honest with everyone, including yourself
4. There will never be enough hours in the day, so choose how you use them wisely
5. Ask the difficult questions
6. Make a budget and manage your money (the sooner, the better)
7. When you're stressed out, crank up the music and take a little dance break
8. There are a lot of things in life you can do, but have been too afraid to try
9. You can't control everything, so take a deep break and just relax
10. Only keep the things in your life that bring you joy
11. The only person you should worry about impressing in life is yourself
12. It's okay to ask for help
13. Failure is okay...
14. ... but learn from your mistakes and don't make them next time.
15. Hangovers are a real bitch by the time you turn 26
16. You don't need what everyone else has
17. Learn everything you can about taxes!
18. No matter how calculated the risk is, it can still be scary
19. Just because someone is older than you, doesn't mean they know more than you (and vise versa)
20. Nothing is better than making something with your own two hands
21. Take it slow, because burnout is oh so real
22. Don't hold on to things you might use in the future - odds are, you won't
23. Find what makes you happy, and do it whenever possible
24. Do your own research before making a decision or opinion
25. It's okay to say, "no"
26. Surround yourself with people that you love and who love you, too