Twenties are shaky and blurry and you get wise as you age. Here are 7 important life lessons learned from my twenties that will help anyone to reaffirm their believes in themselves.
Do you remember how your twenties were? I do, I was in college looking for new friends, trying to fit into the system, prioritising studies over dance (I was a classical dancer). Basically, I was not sure what I was doing rather, what I should do. These are genuine questions every twenty something has, sadly no constructive answers available for them. I have come a long way from the shaky and indecisive twenties. So why not share some important life lessons learned from those shaky and blurry twenties.
But first let me share a glimpse of my twenties.
How were my Twenties?
- I was in college St. Xaviers, Kolkata doing an honours on Sociology
- I had made great friends for life – we’re still a group & pick up from where we left
- Multimedia, digital art, animation became my interest and I did a diploma in multimedia too along with my honours. I was a day scholar at my college and an evening student in multimedia. Yes it was hectic!
- Shifted to Bangalore to do my Post Grads in Media Studies
- Started living away from family for the first time – in fact shared my room with someone for the first time and picked up some life skills
- Made another set of friends for life
- Internships in – Indian Express as a journalist, NGO as a health worker
- Joined work in one of the biggest FMCG brands one day after my final exam
- Yes there were relationships – let’s not go there
- I was 45 kgs when I landed in Bangalore.
- At 25 I married, started my blogs, got published in 3 books
Yes, it was important to share that point #10 because I don’t look like that anymore and I am pretty upset with me to give into junk food and ruining everything good I had in the body!
Now let me share some of the best life lessons learned from my twenties that I can reflect on now.
7 Important Life Lessons Learned from my Twenties
#1 Life Lessons Learned – It doesn’t matter what others say
Pursue your dreams no matter what everyone says. Do the practical things your heart wants – because you live once, there’s no guarantee you are getting born again to do that. If you want to color your hair red, do it. You want to take a solo trip around the world – if you can fund it – do it.
This is a lesson learned hard – IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT OTHERS WILL SAY. Be good, be kind, be compassionate, but be smart, think about yourself too. Get rid of the people who have to butt into your decisions (well you can’t get rid of parents, if they are doing that though) but negotiate wisely.
#2 Life Lessons Learned – You Need to Learn to say NO
This is something I have learnt from my work place. You know when you are young and have joined work you want pleases bosses and you are willing to go at any lengths to get work done.
Working late nights
Being EXTREMELY accommodating with other team members
Skipping breakfast to attend the morning meeting
Skipping lunch to finish the presentation
Working on weekends
STOP DOING THAT.
YOU DON’T NEED TO PLEASE EVERYONE.
Appraisals are not dependant on how many lunches you have skipped, or how many weekends you have worked. No one remembers the presentation when you are 80. Take care of yourself.
#3 Life Lessons Learned – Hard Work & Smart Work
Yes, hard work pays off. But don’t just work hard – work smart. Gain new skills if you want to do good in your career. There’s no shortcut to knowledge. Keep short goals in life, like monthly goals on learning a new software. Read books on life, motivation, personal finance.
There’s always a scope for skilled people. Even if you quit your corporate job, you can be financially independent if you are skilled and know how to get work done.
#4 Life Lessons Learned – More Money ≠More Happiness
More money doesn’t mean more happiness. Everyone has that urge to EARN MORE, or get MORE MONEY to meet the lifestyle you have chosen for yourself. Material things are important, no doubt, but with money comes responsibility. Instead of having the WANT for everything, try to figure out the NEED.
Find out what makes you happy. Is it the new iPhone that makes you happiest or is it the smile of your family? Instead of focussing on MORE MONEY, try focusing on what makes you HAPPY.
#5 Life Lessons Learned – Do Mistakes, they teach you
Don’t shy away from doing mistakes. They teach you, and they teach you better than anything that’s written in the book. If you don’t do a mistake you won’t know what’s right or what could be right. It is ok to fail – in a venture, in a relationship, in professional setting. You will realize what works only when you have failed.
#6 Life Lessons Learned – Speak Out
Being an introvert isn’t the greatest of choices. You need to speak out, for yourself. Communication is the key for any relation – be it between partners, at work, between a husband and wife.
There are fights, arguments, disagreements in every relation. Instead of boiling that inside your head, sit down and talk it out, try to figure out where the problem lies.
#7 Life Lessons Learned – Block Toxic People from your life
There’s no dearth of toxic people who can’t stand seeing you happy. BLOCK THEM FROM YOUR LIFE. Why would you want any negativity in your life. Specially in this age of social media HIT THE BLOCK BUTTON.
I turn a straight face to people who want to spew venom. Believe me I am very good at not getting bothered by these trivial things. As long as I am honest to myself, as long as I am sure of myself I don’t get riled up easily. If I could send an emoji of GIF to the venomous people I would send this 👇
So here are some of the key life lessons learned from my twenties. The last point, however, is true for life. You never know when you will face it. But having the ability to give a straight face is better.
Do you have such life lessons that you might have learnt from a younger self? Why not share with me?
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87 comments
I could relate so much to this post as I am in my late twenties now. Thanks for sharing your wonderful life lessons. It was also interesting reading about your twenties. And you look so cute in the picture.
I relate so well with this post! Saying no to late night workings and blocking toxic people is definitely a learnt skill.
Brilliant post, I could relate to it so much and get some new learnings
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20s is the age when we begin to discover the real world. The life lessons we learn during those years stay with us forever. I agree about making our own mistakes and not bothering about what others say.
I moved out after turning 18 for higher studies. For 16 years, it’s been living in different cities either for studies or jobs. Your post resonates with me at multiple levels.
Hey Tina it was really nice to look at a 10 year younger you. To still look fab. Also, the life lessons though hold more significance for those in there twenties, they stand true for ever person. Its never too late to learn a life lesson and become better at enjoying life. At 35, I am still learning to say No and not getting jittery, everytime I have upset another person.
hey Tina, this was so relatable and wonderful to read. i see me in some of your twenties recall.. glad I came across this post.
Nice lessons. I wish I had them. Nice blog.
All the 10 points you have mentioned are well taken. I agree with all of them. I too have been guilty of accommodating too many people, trying to please bosses at the beginning of my career, but I found out it does not help to follow that policy. It is more important to stand up for yourself. Excellent post. #JaiSReads #MyFriendAlexa
Sorry. There were 7 points and not 10. 🙂
Tina, so precisely put this seven points and it captures the essence of living life, not just in twenties as we progress in our life and career. And you had lovely beginning to your career in big FMCG brand and that too in Bangalore where I started my career I love the place.
Saying ‘No’ and speaking out where it matters and being assertive in our communication makes a huge difference. Easier said than done. We hesitate to be frank and deny somebody by stating ‘No’. This isn’t being harsh or hurting somebody but being in control of the principles and governing guidelines we all develop for ourselves. Money and Mistake are such an important aspects of our life, living and learning the art of living our life. Money is just a medium and it is a double edged sword, we need it but when we have no control on how much and the moment we more than we need much more…the vicious cycle catches us. Money can play a certain part in making us happy and beyond that it takes the happiness away from us unless we put an anchor on it.
Imp life lessons, yes. Money is never = happiness. But thats the truth no one want to believe unless they figure out themselves! Sometimes u need to learn from history too …
Life is about learning and the best teacher shall always remain in our life is the teacher of mistake but the only caution we need to exercise is that we don’t repeat the mistakes and then regret. We need to quickly learn from the mistakes as making mistakes repeatedly cost us heavily. We get so obsessed with work, it is the hard work that drives us initially and then if we don’t shift to smart working we become slave to hard work and others take advantage of us.
The shift is vital to healthy life.
The people around us makes our life better provided we have the right set of people with us and negative people will add to our misery and make things bad worse with us, the faster we recognize and put them away, the better is our life. And that is a big task by itself.
It was nice to land here. Have a lovely week ahead.
Life lessons to live life with elan. I liked the one saying -‘Do mistakes, Mistakes will teach you’
Loved reading your post:)
I could so resonate with this. I felt like you were talking to me when I was in my 20s and giving me some life lessons that would really have helped me back then! But then I guess we all learn from our own experiences and mistakes.
definitely, good lesson you’ve i’ve learned a lot with time too. time is a good teacher.
The last point. That’s so important. I’m in my late twenties and I relate so well with this.
Now, that I am touching 40, I can so relate to these tips. In 20s, you feel the world is at your feet, you are malleable but you are also arrogant. In 30s, I have learnt to respect my body and my spirit. Tina, I loved your colourful blog. It’s the first time I have come upon it and I am zapped. 🙂
Nice lessons, must be useful for many. It is better we change our attitude before we learn all that in a wrong way.
Great read Tina. There’s always something to learn no matter what age…
I’m still in my twenties and still trying to learn to say no. Very well written!
Love the points you’ve shared. Lessons for life, whether you’re 20 or 40.
Simply loved your post ! Life lessons to stay happy.
#msarorasays
I agree with each and every word of this post Tina, seems you have read and penned my heart out. I had written a letter to my daughters with almost similar teachings as you have mentioned in the post. Though, I am still learning to say NO.
O Well! If only somebody had told me this when I was in my twenties. 😉
Loved your article, and your colorful blog.
I am so related to this post and following all in the steps in my life
The points that you have mentioned are so true, Tina. Can resonate with all the points, especially points no. 2 and 7.
This post is very relatable. We have all encountered the points made here. Couldn’t agree more about the part about making mistakes!!!
Agree with all the 10 points. Learn to say No is something I learnt late, but learnt right I would say.
These amazing rules that you have beautifully penned are true for everybody irrespective of the age for a better and peaceful living. I’m so glad you managed to understand and apply them. On my part, I still have to continuously remind myself about these. Loved the post. Keep writing!
First of all you are fabulous the way you write, express and look. Further, I agree with 6 points of yours. I have to disagree yet agree about introverts and communication. Yes, communication is essential and I feel introverts to share their views. However, introverts are often misunderstood and their views are flatly ignored. Guess, at times you have to be loud to say your words.
Hi Tina…I am 54 and I thought let me read this and relive my 20’s but to my surprise, there was nothing similar. Very interesting revelation for me. I so envy you, youngsters living for urself and the “don’t care a damn attitude.” I was 38kgs when I was married off at 19 and after 35 I am a fat pig :p
Agreed to all lesson you learned but 7th one is really important to be Happy
Brilliant post indeed & i can so resonate with all the pointers especially 3 & 4
I have just entered my twenties and I can relate to every single thing you have described.
One more thing that I have learned in my ending twenties…to Forgive fast. Life is too short to carry the burden of grudges.And trust me I have never been happier!
#mannreads
Exhaustive list. Very well drafted and good reference. Thanks for sharing it.
These points spoke to me. I am here experimenting things, quitting jobs, pursuing higher studies, while my friends are marrying towards their happily ever after. 🙂
Amazing post.
Beautifully penned Tina, could relate to all the points!
Interesting life lessons. I feel being positive and carefree are the most important traits everyone should have in all stages of life.
Really a good piece of post, very informative, self development, thanks
These points were so relatable. I just stepped into my thirties and I kept nodding to everything in here.
Yes, 20s do teach us so many things. I am in my late 20s. When I look back the decade I feel myself as a very changed human being. Happiness in life is the highest priority as of now.
Great points mentioned Tina. I am just some years away from 40 and I think I should write a post what I learnt in my late 20’s and now life after you cross mid 30’s. Very interesting and inspiring.
Very solid and valid points, Tina. I wholeheartedly agree with the 6th point about communication. In this era, it’s not the smartest who succeed, but the ones who are able to communicate their views succinctly that do. Very well put together post juxtaposing against your experiences.
Great read. You and I do think alike.
Could relate to the points so well. These are the signs of the 20s well-spent, to have learnt such pearls of wisdom!
I think everyone would be able to relate to this post at some level, Tina! I still feel it impossible to say no. Nothing much has changed since forever, but yeah someday I’ll have to.
A good one! And 3 books 😉 Great going!
This post is so relatable. I was smiling while reading those eleven points of how I were in my twenties. The reason for that smile is it felt like a checklist. Same three book in twenties but I am still in my twenties. The seven lessons were so apt and everyone should keep in mind in their twenties.
Loved peeping in your life Tina. Of all the lessons, the one that I liked the most is committing mistakes as these mistakes pave way for success.
Thanks for sharing.
Can’t agree more with the points you have shared. I think every other person goes through such learning stages in life and take back some great lessons. One learning from my twenties is being flexible with goals.
I can relate to every single point! Very well written.
Good, valid points spoken from experience….twenties were something – weren’t they? 🙂
Tina
First I loved your blog, the colors, the presentation, the placement of everything, your logo all are absolutely fab. Thanks to #MyFriendAlexa for being the bridge.
The post reflects almost everything what i had learnt in my twenties.
Beautifully written.
Perfectly summed up life lessons, I am still learning to say No!! Failing miserable on it though
Hey, its a lovely post. your twenty s journey seems fun and mature with a bright future ahead
I’m sure everyone would very well relate to these things, most importantly make mistakes they teach you. 20’s is like a roller coaster for everyone where we try to act mature and cool at the same time.
#vigorousreads #MyFriendAlexa
Wonderful life lessons captured in a beautiful post Tina. One can easily relate to it. And yes, 20s is the age when we try to explore the world and do a lot of mistakes in the process. Some learn the life lessons in an easy way, some in a hard manner. But we should never stop growing and learning.
I can relate to most of the points that you have mentioned here Tina. One of the biggest problems for me was ‘what will people think’. However, now I release it doesn’t really matter. Sometimes lack of experience and your teen mindset plays with you. Thankfully, not anymore. You have given some great lessons learnt from your twenties.
Couldn’t agree more. Loved the rendezvous through your life and the life lessons that are so apt for all of us. Some of us have been through the twenties and come out unscathed. Yet sometimes we did learn a few lessons.
Love the look of your site. Smart work is definitely better than just hard work. Great lessons you learnt in life. #MyFriendAlexa #momlearningwithbaby
These are such beautiful lessons learned and it feels so proud looking back at from where we have started.
Pooja
http://www.themumsandbabies.com
An apt list Tina I concur with your thoughts – one more thingI would like to add is “I know money is not necessarily equal to happiness ” but they way I look at it is – life is miserable without money too. I have seen very hard days as a kid and though we stuck to each other as a family, we were forever stressed and sad. That made me realise money is indeed important and I would want to be independent financially , make my future secure and who doesn’t like the good things like that glass of wine and the Coach handbag. I feel doubly happy as I have spent the money I earned #MyFriendAlexa #AksReflects
What a significant post Tina. It seemed as if I read myself, we have a lot in common buddy and yes I too was 47 kgs in 2006 when I got married😛. Your life lessons are what I too have learned the hard way, but now stick to them in thick and thin. It is difficult but yes we can. Nice knowing about you gal!
These are some must have lessons in life, particularly the skill to say No and block toxic people. We shy away from saying No even when we want to.
Saying NO and not wasting time by mere dreaming for success is something that people should learn as early as possible. Nice & Relevant pointers 🙂
Interesting points. I have to learn to say NO to other. That’s an art possessed by few.
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Really is an amazing post
Very profound Tina. You have some awesome maturity to have learned these lessons in your 20s. Some I still find hard to abide by today well into my 30s. Wonderful post though.. took me back to my younger (thinner) days
These 7 lessons are so important and looks like you learnt them early on in life.. I especially relate to not being able to say NO!
These are some excellent tips. People often underestimate the 20s but those years shape up as a great person.
#MyFriendAlexa #zenithbuzzreads
Hi Tina , first thing’s first and that’s you looked WOW in 20’s. Luckily you learnt the best 7 lessons in your 20’s while I am still struggling to practice them. I am sure many young readers will benefit from your post.
Love how awesome your 20’s have been, now that I am 29 I think I can take inspiration from this and write one too!
I earnestly believe that every stage of life teaches us a lesson, for the betterment of our life. I also did my post grads in Bangalore 😉
Twenties were hazy in terms of career and life. But there were some of my friends who were clear about what they had to study and when they wanted to get married. Well, I agree that you need to be bold enough to take out the negatives from your life. Back then I was not strong enough to say no to people I didn’t like. Today, I just back off and walk parallel.
Can relate to all of your learnings. I would want to make more mistakes in my 20s 🙂
totally relatable! There is so much to learn in every phase of life
All these lessons I’m still learning in my 20’s I was crazy silly. Good point T!
Firstly, a beautiful blog out here Tina.
I have crossed the mark of 30 and 20s was all about falling down, picking oneself, learning, unlearning, gain, loss.
I hope with all these, 30s is filled with wisdom.
And I definitely would not mind that GIF in real life too!
Your 20s experience speaks a thousand words!I was kind of an emotional fool in my 20s and I think I have worked on it successfully in my 30s.
Loved reading it. I wish I could read it when I was in my 20s ;)!!
wonderful post and wonderful learnings. I wish I had learnt how to say NO. I am still bad at it and I end up doing unnecessary stuff.
So relatable. 20s is essentially when you explore the world out there. Quite literally the defining years of one’s life. Precious life’s lessons are learnt.
Really beautiful messages… I love the way how you discussed about reading books on self help, personal finance… those are so important, especially for women and yet, a lot wouldn’t even consider something like that. Sad but true. I hope reading your blog would turn some women to books they need to be reading.
High Five Tina. One of those rare posts where I agree with all the points. Yes, I believe in what you wrote. Money is not everything. Smart work is important to grow and also to maintain that work life balance. Saying a No might hurt few but for that sake don’t say yes all the time. Log kya kahenge is what still blocks our mindset and decisions. Getting rid of it can open new possibilities. Blocking toxic people is what I did very early. It is never good to keep them around. I always make sure that communication takes place in any relationship. Most of the times I’ll be the one to initiate the conversation but that’s my choice. Lastly, about making mistakes, I once remember a palm reader or some old guy looking at me and saying that I’m a guy who “Jumps first, thinks late” kind of a person. Yes, he is true!
I already follow the rule to say NO when things go in opposite direction. These life lessons are very useful whether you are at any stage of life . I wish to go with your point 1 – Go on a world tour !!