24 Things I've Learned During my 24 Years

Today, I turn 24 years old. Internally, I still feel like I am the 21-year-old that entered the pandemic back in March 2020, but it helps to look back at how far I’ve come in almost a quarter century on this planet.

I decided to spend today drafting 24 pieces of advice that have helped me in my life. These things have worked for me, and I hope they help you too. Take what speaks to you and leave the rest. ??

1. Be Prepared. I grew up as a Boy Scout for nearly 7 years, and I attribute those years to a major growth in the development of my character. “Be Prepared” is the Boy Scout motto, and my scoutmaster would often repeat it ad nauseum. He even had us prepare our 10 Essentials (and four additional items he deemed essential) for every hike no matter the length. I can’t say I’ve ever needed a spade on a 6 mile hike, but I’ll sure be glad I have it if the time ever comes. At the age of 24, I am immensely grateful to this man for instilling this idea in my head to always be prepared for whatever may occur.

2. Be Curious, Not Judgmental. I know this is a Walt Whitman quote, but I was introduced to it through the show Ted Lasso. This outlook on life is scribbled all around my room on post-it notes and whiteboards. Judgement is easy. It’s much harder to reserve conclusions and approach something from a place of learning and curiosity.

3. Honor Your Word. At the end of the day, our actions are what define our character. If you say you are going to do something, follow through. Be someone whose word is gold.

4. Believe. Another Ted Lasso-ism! If you want something, believe with every atom of your being. It doesn’t matter if it comes true or not. What’s important is that you treasure that positivity and believe that you can do what you put your mind to.

5. No One Will Remember It When You’re 80. My amazing grandma told me this when I was sobbing in 6th grade over a poor grade on a test at school. I thought that little failure would ruin my life and all my future plans, but she gave me a hug and told me that no one will remember when I’m 80. I struggled to believe it at the time, but she is completely right. I’m 24 and cannot tell you what the class or the test was!

6. Say Yes to Everything. Within reason of course! But I have always led my life with a “Yes”-first approach, and it has created some of my favorite memories. I’ve partied with Scottish locals, performed with a major Shakespeare company, played bass in punk rock shows, and worked in everything from marketing to making coffee. All of these experiences have helped me in widening my worldview and shaping me into the person I am today.

7. Invite People In. We all know how it feels to show up to an event and not know anyone. It’s terrifying to put yourself into a vulnerable situation in a foreign environment. If you see someone experiencing this, invite them to join you. Be someone that welcomes people into the space and creates a culture of warmth and welcoming.

8. Cultivate a Hobby. Work only takes up 40 hours a week for most folks. There’s plenty of time to enjoy a passion or find something additional that sets your soul on fire. It can be anything from woodworking to bird watching to playing music!

9. Don’t Sacrifice Health for Success. You have plenty of time to work, but you only have one body in this life. Respect and admiration come from strong boundaries instead of burning 18 hours a day on work and having poor physical and mental health.

10. Learn the Power of No. I know this contradicts what I said earlier, but it’s my post so I say that’s okay. Saying yes can open yourself to opportunities, but saying no can reserve time for yourself. Setting boundaries through “No” can create a healthier schedule and allow you to give yourself to the other obligations in your life. It also builds respect and shows that your time is valuable.

11. Your Passion Doesn’t Need to Become Your Only Source of Income. It CAN become your sole source of income, but it’s also okay if it doesn’t become that. Doing something for the fun of it allows you to have more freedom and joy than depending on the next gig for your rent.

12. Turn Off Your Phone When You Work. You’ll feel more satisfied with dipping into the flow state than with an Instagram notification.

13. Fully Disconnect When You Go On Vacation. When I visited New York, I brought my work laptop. I had the full week off on PTO, but I still felt the need to be available. I checked Slack daily, I responded to some customer emails, and I even booked a meeting while I was out of town. No one asked me to do this, but I personally felt guilty for taking time off. It’s something I have to fight a lot, but fully disconnect when you take time off. The projects will be there for you when you get back.

14. Look for Culture Over Compensation. You’ll be spending 40 hours a week with this company and these people. Make sure you like them and feel comfortable. As much as you are being interviewed, you are interviewing them, too.

15. Build a Work From Home Routine. With the rise of remote work, it’s more important than ever. Do something in the morning to get yourself out of the house. Go for a short walk, grab coffee from down the street, or drive around for a few minutes. Do what works for you to separate your work life from your personal life. Also, put on actual pants. It helps.

16. Always Assume the Best. Most people are nice and mean well. In a technological environment, it’s easy to put different inflections on an email or text than intended. Always assume the best positive intention. If they were in fact being rude, this assumption will diffuse any tension.

17. Your Company and You Have a Mutual Relationship. Make sure this relationship is balanced. You should be working hard to support the company’s mission, but the company should be taking care of you. If you ever feel the relationship is swinging too far one way, take a second to reflect and see if something needs to change.

18. Exercise. You don’t have to exercise with a goal of looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but make sure you’re getting at least 30 minutes of movement in a day. If your schedule is slammed and you can’t dedicate that time, try taking one of your meetings from your phone while you go for a walk! You’ll feel more productive and rejuvenated.

19. Learn an Instrument. Even if it’s a recorder or the triangle, learn how to play an instrument. Music activates a different part of our minds and our souls. I cannot tell you how many times I have reached for my guitar or bass when I’ve had to process some challenging emotions.

20. Listen More Than You Speak. Everyone can talk, but it takes patience and focus to listen.  

21. Let Yourself Change. We aren’t the same people we were yesterday or even 10 years ago, and that’s okay! Clinging to who you used to be will only create anxiety. We are meant to learn and grow. Let yourself go on that journey.

22. Passion is Sexy. Contrary to popular opinion, caring about something is really cool. I often succumbed to the idea that being coy made people like me more, but I was just being inauthentic. Having fun and being passionate is way more contagious and rare. My favorite example of this is Joey and Chandler when they go to London for Ross’s wedding in Friends. Joey was so excited and passionate about the whole experience while Chandler preferred to be more aloof. Joey ended up having an amazing day while Chandler spent his in the hotel room. Sure, Joey’s hat was dorky, but he chose to follow passion.

23. Eat Well, Drink Water, Get Sleep. Everyone says to do this, but not many people really do. When I learned to prioritize these basic habits, it completely changed how I feel when I wake up. If you’re busy, prepare several healthy snack and lunches ahead of time. My parents call it my "emotional support water bottle," but I carry this bottle with me everywhere to make sure I'm drinking enough water.

24. Savor Each Day. We’re only here for a finite amount of time with the people and things we love. Cherish every single moment and lead your life with gratitude.