Today is my 25th birthday, and I could go on and on about how I thought I would be somewhere completely different when I hit a quarter of a century. In reality, where I am right now is exactly where I am supposed to be. My path has gone many ways and at times I wish I had this, or I wish I had done that, but wishing doesn’t get me very far. What I do know is that in my 25 years of life I have learned so very much, more than any education or six figure job could teach or give to me. The journey of life tends to do that.
In the last couple years I blogged about the gifts that I had so graciously been given, and the activities I had planned for my birthday. This year I want to share something with everyone else. A list of things I wish I had known when I was younger. A list of things I have learned in the last 25 years. For those of you under 25, and even those of you over 25 this is for you. We are never too old to learn from our peers, and it doesn’t stop here.
25 things I’d tell myself at age 15
1. Always tell the truth. You will hurt people, it’s inevitable, but if you’re always honest they will have no choice but to respect you.
2. Make mistakes..LOTS of them, and then learn from them.
3. Don’t be afraid to fall in love. Deep, true love. If it fails just know that everything happens for a reason. Learn from the fail, and pick yourself back up.
4. If something is important to you then work for it. Nothing worth having comes easily.
5. Worry, stress, and over think things less. Sometimes when you let it be, things work themselves out. Never underestimate the power of a positive mind.
6. Don’t let other people change your mind, and don’t let someone else’s influence make you feel bad about your feelings. Be confident in your thoughts and decisions!
7. Be vulnerable, with friends, with family, and with lovers.
8. Do not live your life on a timeline. Things have a way of working out when they are meant to.
9. Travel more. Money is meant to be spent, you don’t have to hoard it all. Memories are priceless and photos are wordless.
10. Spend more time with your family, you never know when you won’t see them as often.
11. Don’t always listen to what other people say about you. People will judge you, it’s human nature. The ones that stick by your side regardless of who you are will be the ones worthy of your friendship.
12. Be respectful to your body. Treat it well, and listen to its cues. Eat.Real.Food.
13. Do more things that scare you, and spend more time alone.
14. Find joy in each and every day, and do more things for other people.
15. Listen to your parents. They know more than you, and only want to keep you safe. Most of the time. 🙂
16. Don’t be afraid to walk away from people that don’t treat you well. Friendships sometimes end, and if someone doesn’t bring light into your life ditch them.
17. Eat more cake.
18. STOP comparing yourself to other people. Success comes in all shapes and sizes.
19. Put your focus on yourself. What do you want, where do you want to go, what does YOUR future look like? Be selfish at times…it’s OK!
20. Forgive often, and do not dwell. You are only hurting yourself if you continue to let other peoples actions affect you. Always move forward.
21. Listen to Jiminy Cricket – Let your conscience be your guide. If you don’t have internal peace about doing something, DON’T do it.
22. Don’t be afraid to say no. Don’t be afraid to say YES!
23. 15 jalapeno poppers in one sitting probably isn’t a good idea, regardless of how high your metabolism is. Oh to be 12…
24. When you discover your passions, grab them and run. Be true to you.
25. Stop comparing your life to what “society” has deemed as success. Forget the molds, you’re free to do whatever you want with your life.
I could keep going, but long lists get boring to read after a while so I’ll leave it at this. Despite feeling “lost in life” at times over the last 5 years, I am finally feeling content with “floating” so to speak. Life is too short to be unhappy, and sometimes you just have to live in the now!* The future will ALWAYS be there waiting for you, and it’s never too late.
*I don’t mean sitting back and doing nothing with life, still gotta work! I’m accepting not knowing the final picture yet and living more for each and every day! Life wasn’t meant to be rushed through.
As I publish this post I am on my way to Portland to run this 10K, and enjoy a two day spontaneous getaway in one of the most vegan friendly cities. Bring on the food and fun! Running a race for my birthday is the best gift I could give to myself. This will be the third year I have run a race around my birthday, and the tradition will continue!
Now if you’ll excuse me, #17 is calling my name.
Q: What would you tell your younger self?
110 thoughts on “25 Things”
lifeaslisaknowsit
Great list! Have a very Happy Birthday!! 🙂
FYI- You could totally be a couch model. 🙂
Brittany
Thank you… x 2!
Laura
Happy Birthday! Love this list and hope you have an amazing day and year!
Brittany
Thank you!
alex@vegginout
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I’m sorry I’ve been so busy lately and haven’t been able to keep up with your blog, but I’m so glad I stopped by this morning because that list truly brightened my day and I bookmarked it so I can return to it when I feel lost. I’m only 18, but so many of the things that you said resonated with me. The one thing that I’m learning, especially this year, is that life is way too short, and if I don’t take a risk and step out of my comfort zone, I’ll never know what I was missing and might regret it for the last of my life. And life is too short for regrets!
I hope you rock the 10k (I know you will!) and have an amazing time in Portland!! (Welcome to Oregon!! 🙂 ) I’m so glad to know you and am so thankful for all the advice you have given me. Have an incredible birthday because trust me, you deserve it!!! ❤
Brittany
OHH my dear friend, don’t you dare apologize!! Life comes first! Thank you for the birthday wishes, and even more for the kind words you shared!! You have a wonderful outlook on life already, you will be just fine!
Britta
I will comment although I am also just texting you! First picture – LOVE IT. Just a saucy little minx you were back then, I mean, not that you aren’t now.. but just in different ways! hahah The list is so so wonderful and I need to copy and paste this and give it to everyone I know. They pretty much all hit home to me, especially number 8 & 25, and 20 is something that I find so so important – it has also taken me time to get to that place of “not dwelling” <–its more awful/difficult than it actually sounds.
ANYWAYS! Have such a wonderful birthday weekend in Portland!! You deserve so much happiness, cupcakes, LOVE, and absolutely nothing but the best! So happy we found each other via the world wide web. LOVE YOUUUUUU!!!!!! XOXOX
Brittany
Bahaha minxy betch. Thank you my lovely Canadian friend, I just adore ya!
Erin Salisbury
Happy Birthday! Love your inspiring words! And have a great race!!
Brittany
Thank you!
Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
HaPpY BiRtHdAy pretty lady! How’s it feel to be a quarter of a century old?! The same as 24, I know, haha. LOVE this list. It’s a great reminder of how we should live, regardless of age. You are wise beyond your years. I think #4 and 17 are my faves 🙂 Have fun at your BDay race and shoveling your face yummy vegan deliciousness!!!
Brittany
Thank you my friend! Technically yes, it feels exactly the same. This number has a whole new punch behind it though! TWENTY FIVE OMGAH!
pickyrunner
I love this! Happy birthday lady! Enjoy that cake and the race and your weekend in portland!
Brittany
Thank you!! You know I enjoyed EVERY last crumb!
brickhousechick
FELIZ CUMPLEANOS AMIGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! {OMG you’re half my age…). Have a fantastic day eating all the yummy things and NEVER stop making your faces! 🙂
Brittany
Gracias mi amor!!
spectacuLAUR
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BEAUTIFUL,CAKE-LOVING VEGAN FRIEND!
Brittany
Thank you my love!
Kammie
Happy birthday!! Great post, it’s good to take a step back and see what you’ve learned.
Brittany
Thank you, and I couldn’t agree more!
Kelsey
I LOVE THIS! I’m publishing my birthday post soon.
Happy Birthday, my birthday twin! I hope you have a spectacular day.
Brittany
Happy birthday to you!! YAY for us!
Megan
Happy Birthday lovebug. This is now my 4th means of wishing you a happy birthday! You have quite the gem sitting in your voicemail for whenever you get a second to listen : ) I really think you are a wonderful person and I feel lucky to count you as one of my close friends. Can’t wait for you to get your vegan booty to the east coast NEXT MONTH!!!!!
Brittany
You win the most happy birthdays of all. BAHA LOVE YOU.
jessiebearwhat
Happy birthday! My 22nd is next Friday & I can guarantee you I am already an old person who won’t be celebrating with late nights and loud music hahaha.
Brittany
NO SHAME, to be honest I really didn’t even have that much fun on my 22nd!! Thank you!
Kristina at damntenpounds
Happy Birthday, beautiful!! This list is SPOT ON! #8 and #18 will forever be my greatest piece of advice to anyone younger that will listen to me. When you put yourself on a timeline, comparing yourself to others, you set yourself up for disaster. You’re no longer living your life at that point, but the life you think you should be living to make other people happy. You are one smart cookie learning that early on 🙂 Have a great time in Portland! xo
Brittany
Thank you! HELL YES!
Catherine @ A Two Storey Home
Happy birthday, beautiful girl!! I hope you feel very loved and celebrated today 🙂 Love the list.
Brittany
Thank you, you better believe I felt loved!!
thoughtsappear
Happy Birthday! Good luck with the 10k!
Brittany
Thank you, thank you!
Taryn
Happy birthday! Love this list 🙂
Brittany
Thank you!
Ashley
Happy Birthday!! I loveeee this. All of this is so true. If only we knew back then what we know now. I need to keep reminding myself of #5 all the time. The stuff that I worried about back then isn’t even relevant to my life now. I hope that you have the best day! Check out my post tomorrow about money because it goes perfectly with what you said.
Ashley, Married to the Game
Brittany
Thank you, checking out your post STAT!
PNWRunner
Happy happy birthday!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Brittany
Thanks my love!
freedomfoodjournal
Happy Birthday! Your list is very inspirational 🙂
Brittany
Thank you, times two!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
Happy Birthday, pretty lady! I can definitely relate to not being exactly where I thought I’d be at this point in life, but now that I’m here, it’s honestly hard to imagine being anywhere else… if that makes sense. I wish I could go back and tell my younger self to worry less and laugh more, but I have a feeling she wouldn’t have listened… Everyone needs to learn as they go.
Brittany
Heck yes it makes sense! Thank you!!
Hannah
Happy Birthday, Girl! I love the list. It made me think about what I would tell myself at 17. The biggest thing would be to Just Do It. Nike slogan aside I kept myself from doing so much because I thought I wasn’t the “type” of person to do those things. Nonsense!
Brittany
I love it! Thank you!
B
I think I would tell my younger self that crap happens. When it does happen, don’t linger on it. Learn from it and grow!
Brittany
Hell to the yeah!
Amalia
I love this list! Happy Birthday – WE ARE THE SAME AGE! Love it.
Your list is totally inspirational and hit all the right things. I WISH my younger self had this list.
It’s amazing how we grow and learn, isn’t it?
I love your blog because you are always so honest and open and funny. Happy 25th. I hope someone makes you 25 cupcakes.
Brittany
Thank you my friend! I appreciate your sweet comments!
Matt @ Runner Savvy
Happy birthday!
Brittany
Thank you!
Lisa
Happy birthday my lovely friend!!!! Hope you have the best weekend ever<3
And I love your words of wisdom of course. Couldn't have said it better.
Brittany
Thank you pretty lady!
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats
Happy birthday lovely lady!! I hope you have an amazing weekend ❤
Love your list and words of wisdom, I think I would say all the things you said to your younger self to my younger self too. My big one would be not to waste so much time worrying about the future.
Brittany
Amen..and thank you!
storiesbywilliams
As someone who passed the 25 milestone some time ago (I won’t say how long ago!), I can say that you’re still a baby and therefore too young to be taking life so seriously. Now get out there and live up while you’re still young enough to bounce back after a night of binging! 🙂
Brittany
Hahah ok ok , I promise to let loose a little. ONLY a little! Thank you!
Luv What You Do
What a beautiful post!
Happy Birthday!
I have often thought about what I would tell myself at 15…especially when I hit 30 and realized that I could do high school way better now than 15 years ago. I think the biggest thing I would tel myself is to love and respect myself no matter what. And to treat myself well. I’m not sure if I would listen though…ha ha!
Have a wonderful weekend and wishing you a fantastic year ahead!
Brittany
AMEN! Thank you my friend!
Amy
Happy birthday, sweet friend!! You have been a positive light in my life for the past year… Or two… Or three… However long ago I first discovered your blog. Your posts speak love and joy and truth, and it’s so fitting that this is what you wrote for your birthday. You have a maturity and wisdom well beyond your years, and we’re all so blessed that you share it with us. Thank you for your beautifully written birthday gift!
P.S. I actually ran in a relay race from Portland to Eugene on my birthday 3 years ago!! If only we had more time to explore the area… I would’ve loved to try some of those vegan options!
Brittany
Thank you so much my dear. This comment and your wonderful text really made my day! I am so glad you discovered my blog so that I could discover yours (and forever drool.) I think your relay race sounds wonderful!!
Amy
Aww the feeling is so mutual Brittany. I love reading your blog!! 🙂
Alex
I absolutely ADORE this post!!! Thank you for sharing these tidbits of advice–I especially love the Jiminey Cricket reference 😉
I hope you had the happiest of birthdays, Brittany! You’re such a ray of sunshine and if anyone deserves to have a kick butt year ahead, it’s YOU!! 🙂
Brittany
Thank you, I just adore you to bits my friend!
An Unrefined Vegan
Never stop with the crazy faces – – please!
Happiest of birthdays, Britt! As I’ve said before, you are wise beyond your years.
Brittany
I promise, they’ll never stop. Thank you!! 🙂
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Happy Birthday Britt! I love the tips, love you, love everything about this post.
My tip: be silly stupid with your friends, family and lovers.
Brittany
DEAL!! Thank you my cat lady lover!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Me-Yow!
Davida @The Healthy Maven
HAPPY BELATED GORGEOUS!!!!!! LOVED THIS POST BUT ESPECIALLY 22 AND 24. I WROTE THIS COMMENT IN CAPS LOCKS CAUSE I LOVE YOU THAT MUCH. HBD 🙂
Brittany
I LOVE THE CAPS! SO MUCH MORE EXCITEMENT THIS WAY! THANK YOU!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
We should be a modeling tag team… You take the couches, I’ll take the LAZ-E Boys and Bean Bag Chairs… Wait, have I EVER told you my bean bag chair modeling story?! Oh my. That’s a story made for Text or Skype… NOT BLOG COMMENT – aka: it’s like XXXXXXX-Rated, LMFAO!!! To be honest, I am not even sure if your YOUNG 25 year old ears can handle it 😉
Brittany
Best story ever. I only had one nightmare…which definitely means I handled it well.
GiGi Eats Celebrities
BAHHH HA HA HA AH AH! Now I need to hear THAT story 😉
naptimethoughts
I’ve been 26 for a decade now, and having had a decade of experience at your age, I can tell you for sure that you have a good grip on growing up. Just make sure to enjoy 25, because before you know it, you’ll have been 26 ten times.
Brittany
Wonderful comment, thank you!
P
#9 and 10 are so, so true. I am very hesitant when it comes to spending money (I’ve always been a saver vs. a spender), but money is meant to be spent, especially when it comes to travels and the experiences and memories that come out of it :)!
I love #17 too!
Brittany
Being frugal is imprinted into my DNA! HAHA!
Ja @Ja on the RUN
You are the cutest celebrant! Happy 25th birthday! I enjoyed reading your list. I’m older than 25 and I definitely learned a lot from it! 🙂 Enjoy Portland! And Goodluck with your race! 🙂 Update us! 🙂
Brittany
Thank you!! Updates to come!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
Mmm, those cupcakes!!!
Great advice. You did an awesome job of summarizing what MOST 15 year olds should hear.
Also, I love your funny faces.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Brittany
Thank you!! I wish I had more cupcakes…
kelly @ racesrepsramblings
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Hope it’s a fabulous one 🙂
Brittany
Thank you!
Kat
HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY MY LOVE!! Love love love this post! Such a good idea 🙂 Eat more cake is definitely a good one 🙂
Brittany
One of the best on the list I would say!! 😉 Thank you!
karla @ finding my fit
I’m so sorry-happy belated birthday! I was at home visiting friends this weekend. Hope you had a splendid day and weekend.
This post is seriously awesome lady. So many things you have learned, and things I need to heed to heart.
Brittany
NO sorry!! Thank you for the comment!!
Sarah @ Feeeding the Brain and Body
These are all such great reminders. What a perfect exercise for reflecting on the past. I hope you had a marvellous birthday!!
Brittany
I couldn’t agree more!! Thank you!
Christina Does It All
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, love! (I turn 25 next month! We’re so close in age woooooo, old people! :P) And I LOVE your list! 9,13,14, 16,17,24….Heck, all of them!!!!
Brittany
Thank you my friend!! I can’t wait to say the same to you in one month!!
Scrambled Megs
what a wonderful and insightful post. sorry i’m late with my birthday wishes but HB! i loved reading all of this. we have a bit in common in the way we think it seems! xx
Brittany
Thank you!
sincerelylily
im the WORST for not commenting on this earlier…… I AM SORRY. Love this list…. and couch models are needed in the world. I really like # 4,8,16. I am learning all about #16 currently and I think I am okay with it….. and yes, if you want good things to happen, you gotta work for it.
Younger self – I would tell her, “Stop fretting. Life will work out regardless. And all those times you thought you had to look a certain way – pshhh silly. Just look like you.”
I WANT TO EAT ZEE CUPCAKESSSSS. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY BLOG BUDDY BRITTANY!!!! LOTS OF bbbbbbb’S!
Brittany
You were THE FIRST to tell me HBD remember??! NO sorry necessary! I love you, and cannot wait until NEXT MONTH!
Meredith
Happiest of birthdays to you girl! (So sorry this is late!) I loved reading your list. I think the thing I would tell myself is one of yours: don’t live thinking you have a timeline. I catch myself doing this still and cringe! I hope you had the best day ever xoxo
Brittany
Thank you!! To hell with that timeline!
luvkeneisha
HBD!!!!
Brittany
TY! 🙂
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
I can’t believe I missed your bday but HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY! I love your blog and this list is so perfect. I feel like I should print it out and tape it to my fridge haha. I hope you ate tonssss of cupcakes to celebrate, beautiful girl!
Brittany
Thaaannkkk youuu!! I had a delicious cupcake, and then a doughnut the following day. It was great!
Lauren
I love these lists! Really makes you think twice and kick yourself in the butt! HAPPY BIRTHDAY. 🙂 I hope it was fabulous and cake-filled! xo
Brittany
Thank you!!
Life After Swimming
Happy belated birthday!!! Love that we both turned 25 within one week! Such an odd age for me to comprehend…feels so much older than 24!
Brittany
Thank you!! I agree, it feels so bizarre to say I am 25..it sounds SO OLD!
apartmentwife
oh brit, such a wonderful and happy and fulfilling post – seems like you’ve worked out all sorts of things and are on the path to a very happy and fulfilling 25th year and all the years after that, too 🙂 i especially agree with not living your life on a timeline- it’s more important that we accept what’s meant for us when it comes rather than chase down the wrong things ❤
Brittany
THANK you!! Your comment is wonderful.
Melissa @ Al Forno Mementos
Happy belated Brittany! I just realized we are not that far apart! Hope 25th is treating you well so far! Love the list! #23 sounds like it hurts coming out … sorry if that sounds gross. hahaha
Rach @ This Italian Family
Y-E-S!! To every one of these! I wish there were a way to convey these things to younger people in our lives, but I think sometimes that learning this lessons for ourselves is part of growing up. By the way, happy belated birthday! I hope it was AWESOME! 🙂
A Tablespoon of Liz
Happy (belated!) Birthday!! Love all the advice, especially #17 : )