29 Things I’ve Learned in 29 Years
Turning 29 feels less about adding another year and more about gathering the quiet truths life has been teaching me all along. The lessons that tend to matter most aren’t learned through striving or perfection, but through living, softening, paying attention, and slowing down.
Across cultures, generations, and end-of-life reflections, people tend to say the same things: relationships mattered more than work, presence mattered more than productivity, and love mattered more than anything else.
In the spirit of that wisdom, here are 29 things I’ve learned in my 29 years here on Earth - offered gently, in case they meet you where you are.
29 Life Lessons That Truly Matter
The moments you will remember most are the little ones. Ordinary days become sacred in hindsight.
We become what we think about all day long. Your inner dialogue is shaping your life.
Most of your worries never come true. Peace lives on the other side of trust.
Hydration matters more than we realize. Adding electrolytes to your water can change how your body feels.
The key to life is presence. Do humble tasks with great love and attention - mopping floors, washing dishes, cooking meals.
There are really only two energies to live from: fear or love. Every decision eventually comes down to this choice.
You are here to experience, not to perform. Life is meant to be played with, not perfected.
Laughter is deeply medicinal. Humour and light-heartedness can heal what seriousness cannot.
Follow your sparks of curiosity. They are quiet invitations guiding you forward.
Nature is essential, not optional. Getting outside daily regulates the nervous system and restores perspective.
Herbs are ancient allies. Drinking herbal tea regularly can gently support the body and spirit.
Food is information. Nourish yourself with grass-fed & finished beef, bone broths, pasture-raised eggs, avocados, organic berries, and omega-3s from wild-caught small fish. Eat seasonally and locally when possible.
True health is balance. A healthy lifestyle isn’t strict - it includes joy, connection, sunshine, laughter, and rest.
Choose gentleness in love. A kind and emotionally safe partner changes everything.
The people who feel like home are everything. Choose relationships that bring peace and draw out your best self.
You are not searching for the thing - you are searching for the feeling. Fulfillment is emotional, not material.
Ask better questions. What would you do with your days if money weren’t an object? Do more of that now.
Caring what people think is a drain on life force. Your energy is precious - spend it wisely.
Enjoy your beauty while you have it. Society teaches self-criticism, but time reveals how beautiful you always were.
Beauty is not perfected - it is felt. Self-acceptance radiates more than any external fix.
What you set your heart upon matters. Intention carries momentum.
Spiritual connection brings grounding. Prayer, surrender, and asking for guidance create clarity.
Movement is medicine. Move your body often. Sweat often.
Sugar clouds clarity. Eating less creates space for steadier energy.
Softness is not weakness - it is wisdom. Tenderness is strength in a hardened world.
Be discerning with advice. Only receive guidance from those living lives you genuinely respect.
Giving expands the heart. What you give returns in unexpected ways - and usually feels better than receiving.
Your heart knows before your mind does. Intuition is an intelligence worth listening to.
In the end, love is all that remains. It is the only thing that is real.
What Turning 29 Taught Me About Living Well
A meaningful life isn’t built through hustle, perfection, or constant self-improvement. It’s built through presence, nourishment, reverence for the body, devotion to what feels true, and choosing love - again and again.
If you’re moving through your twenties, thirties, or any season of transition, let this be a reminder: you don’t need to have it all figured out. You only need to stay close to what feels alive, honest, and loving.
Thank you for being here - for reading, reflecting, and choosing what truly matters.