5 Things I Learned at 28

Well, today I turn 29 years old and y’know what? I kind of really love being almost 30, and I never ever thought I would say that.

This year has been a freakin’ WHIRLWIND. I moved into a new apartment with my boyfriend, switched jobs (twice…?), got into a minor but very expensive car accident, broke my elbow, and started getting serious with my blog/Instagram. It’s been a year of ups and downs, exciting and new things, realizing what I do and don’t want to do with my life for the rest of time, and learning about myself. I have some maaaajor goals to hit by the time I’m 30, so knowing I have one year to get there is giving me the biggest, most exciting push EVER. I’m so ready to work, to accomplish, to grow, to change, and to make moves.

That being said, this year has been an incredible stepping stone on my way there, and I wanted to share some of the most important things I learned this year. I know most of them are particular to me and my life, but maybe there a few tidbits in there that you can relate to, also?

1. If you’re unhappy, make a change. As I mentioned earlier, I did switch jobs twice this year. Am I proud of that? No, not really, but what I AM proud of is the fact that I was able to recognize that a certain situation wasn’t allowing me to thrive, and then take action to remedy that situation. I learned so much from where I’ve come from (and met some seriously incredible people!!! I always fall in love with my coworkers, honestly…), and I don’t think I would have found the role I’m now in without those changes happening at those moments.

2. Save for a very, very rainy day. So in a matter of 2 months, I had to spend about $2,000 between my car (this dude straight up ran a stop sign and blamed it on me…thanks bro!) and my injury. I admittedly cried when I saw all the bills, but it wasn’t so much because I didn’t have the money, just because there were soooo many other things I wanted to be doing with my $2,000, y’know? That being said, I DID have the money because I’m pretty good at saving (hence why I’m always on a budget over here), and I’m so freakin’ glad I did because if I didn’t have savings I’m not quite sure what I would’ve done.

3. But don’t stress out or freak out when things don’t go as planned. Okay you know that $2,000 I spent in less than 60 days? I actually got some of it back after the car insurance company was able to sue the other driver (s/o to State Farm!) and the hospital made a mistake. I knowwww I am the MOST lucky person ever, but I swear I never counted on getting anything back at all. If I had, I wouldn’t have spent all that time crying and stressing out over money. I think regardless, the lesson here is that sh*t happens and then it works itself out. Even if I hadn’t gotten any of that money back, what was done was done and once I spent the money it was gone and over with. We experience things, we learn, we move on.

4. Meet people. All the people. This one does seem a little unusual for me to be writing – I’m an introvert like 90% of the time, I didn’t go to a single networking event in business school, and I still have the same best friends I did in middle school. But, I can’t even begin to tell you how much joy I’ve gotten from meeting people this year. And don’t laugh, but most of them I found on Instagram…yep, the freakin’ internet. I’ve also been saying yes to as many events as possible, and facing my awkwardness head on, to introduce myself to people at all of them. You know why? Because as I get older I realize 1) how important it is to surround yourself with solid people that understand you, 2) that networking really IS insanely important for your career, and 3) meeting other women in the community you’re in (or men! whatever, honestly) is insanely fulfilling and inspiring. I love helping others and the help I personally have received is immense. I am so grateful.

5. If you don’t have the time or money to go far away for a vacation, take time to explore someplace nearby or even in your own city. I don’t know about you, but I find myself getting upset when I realize I don’t have the vacation days (or funds) to take an actual vacation and all I want is to escape LA. This year was also the first one in a couple where my boyfriend and I couldn’t just go all over the place on a whim (like we did in business school or when I worked remotely every Friday), so it felt slightly different. That being said, I think we’ve had some pretty fun days doing new things around LA, or even venturing out for quick day or overnight trips to Santa Barbara, San Diego (I’m there now!) or Topanga Canyon. Not everything has to be a big event to make it feel special, break up the week, or help re-set the soul.

If this ^ doesn’t make you chuckle inside, then what will honestly????

Okay, that’s it for today? Thanks for stickin’ by me through another year and hope you have a fantastic weekend!

xo Jordan