Today marks my 36th year on earth. It’s a trip watching myself get older. I quite like it. I was never really cut out to be a young person. I was born to be old :)

I had a lovely day with friends and family. As is often the case with any annual tradition, I am reminded to reflect on the passage of time. This year I wanted to share what I have learned so far, with 36 lessons to mark each year.

Let's get started:

Smile

It sounds so corny, but smiling (Yes! Big toothy smiles!) works. It makes you feel good. It brightens the day for others. It makes you look more pleasant (wrinkles be damned). It sets off all the happy-inducing chemicals in your brain. It’s ok to not want to smile all the time, but I like it to be my default facial expression :)

Be Early

This is just plain ‘ol practical. I hate running late, it stresses me out. So I leave early, find the place I'm supposed to be, and chill for a few minutes instead of cutting it close with a mad dash at the end. That buffer of time is peace of mind for me.

Listen to Your Gut

I need to trust my instincts. They have gotten me out of sketchy scenes and led me to new cool experiences. Sometimes the situation calls for more than rational thought. My brain does most of the work but my gut does the rest.

Be Frugal

This has been a game changer, and I wish I had embraced it sooner. I truly believe frugality has as much to do with wealth creation as income. I can’t build wealth if I spend everything I make, regardless of how much I earn. Being frugal helps in my pursuit of financial goals.

Always Be Learning

I didn’t always value a formal education, and even with a few degrees under my belt I’m a bit skeptical. But, I do know that I love to learn, and the opportunities to learn new things are endless. Curiosity is a gift; it keeps you engaged and excited. We have so much information at our fingertips, there’s really no excuse to be stagnant. So I learn, and grow, and I try to teach. Rinse and repeat.

Fail Forward

This was a tough one for me. Taking a risk knowing that I could fail. I had a bad habit of just avoiding the tough decisions, or acting like I didn’t care so I wouldn’t be hurt. Failing sucks. But it’s an experience you can learn from (always be learning!). It can help you build empathy and resilience. When you fail forward, you land in a new place. It may not be exactly where you wanted or planned, but at least you’re not standing still and you’re primed to make your next move.

That’s it for now :) Part 2 tomorrow!

Thanks for reading.