Lifestyle Review: 5 Life Lessons I Learnt Before Turning 25

Pink Birthday cupcake
Tomorrow is my 25th birthday. I will have officially existed on this earth for one quarter of a century. Now whilst I don't think age really matters, and many of you may be reading this and thinking "that's not old", I can assure you that there are days when I definitely feel it in my bones. But with age comes knowledge and so here's a few things I've come to learn...

pink birthday cupcake and candle

A lot of people have come and gone from my life in the space of 25 years - some that I'm still saddened about and some that I know was for the best. I've come to realise that friendship break ups are unfortunate but common for people around our age - we're finally finding ourselves and our situations change. We have work, relationships, our own goals and sometimes it's hard to juggle. Life just gets in the way. People grow apart and people have silly arguments that they leave unresolved. Some people, however, are garbage people that you were better off not having in the first place. The good thing about being a 'grown up' is that we get to choose our friends. We're not bound by circumstance, we don't have to associate with the people who don't bring anything to our lives. That doesn't necessarily mean that we don't miss those who've moved on, however. Personally, I'm much happier with maintaining a small, close circle of genuine friends over a large group of fair-weather friends who only get in touch when they want something.


I think it was very easy to make excuses not to do things in my early twenties but I soon realised that no one was going to help me but me. You are the master of your own destiny. When I left uni, I set myself a set of goals and I sort out to make them happen. It took a lot of time but I did it. That doesn't mean it was easy but I found that when I stopped to break down the necessary steps, I could do it. I think that's the same for a lot of people fresh out of Uni also. Much like I did, they come out and don't always know what they want to do and feel lost. It's easily done. However, the best thing you can do is set yourself goals - big or small and you'll see that you can pretty much do anything you put your mind to. It might take months, years, money and unfortunately it might be tough but you'll get there.

One of my most basic rules of life that applies to everything. Don't be a dick. Don't like someone else's opinion? That's fine, just don't be a dick. Don't like someone's makeup or style? Don't like someone/thing or a particular race or sex? That's also fine (although not really), just don't be a dick about it - keep it to yourself and don't act on it. We all slip up and make mistakes sometimes but this is a good lesson to always have at the forefront of your mind.

A wise woman once said "Choose your battles, babe Then you'll win the war" (well done if you didn't have to google that).Whilst I don't get involved with blogging dramas on Twitter and whatnot, I have witnessed a lot of it on my feed lately. I'm sure that most of it feels justified to the parties involved but mostly I felt that they just didn't need to waste their energy on replying to someone who had clearly ignored the don't be a dick rule. It can also mean letting go of the little small things, such  as an annoying habit your partner has or when your friend said something that was a bit blunt but wasn't really the end of the world. I've come to learn that you can't fight every battle in these instances and sometimes it's best to just let it go and carry on or decide to walk away entirely. Don't sweat the small stuff, baby.

This kind of links back to not being a dick and picking your battles but I've come to learn that not everything is so black and white in life. Recently, I've found myself thinking that maybe "live and let live" really is the best option in life. When I was younger, I had some very strong views and opinions towards life - things like sex, drugs, life/death, feminist issues etc. Whilst my fundamental principles and beliefs have stayed the same, as time's gone on a lot of these opinions have changed because I've changed. I've come to learn and accept that no two circumstances are the same - there's no right or wrong way sometimes. Except with racial hatred - that's just wrong. No two ways about that one. Don't be a dick.
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That's it for my so-called words of wisdom and pretending I've got it all figured out. I do, however, feel that I'm not doing too bad for someone of my age and so I'm feeling pretty proud of what I've managed to achieve thus far (even if some days I feel a little boring). So tell me, what are your favourite life lessons? What miles stones did you achieve (or hope to) before your 25th birthday? As always, I love reading your comments so please do leave me lots of lovely ones below. Also - a special shout out to my wonderful Dad who's birthday it is today (20th May). He really is an awesome Dad and I'm looking forward to celebrating with him tonight.

Until next time,





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33 comments

  1. number 1 is particularly true for me! I so agree with it! And the don't be a dick, everyone should read and memorise this one!

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY girl! I hope you have a wonderful day ahead! :)
    Pam xo/ Pam Scalfi♥

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    1. Haha see, I'm wise (sometimes!). Thank you so much hun! Have a great weekend x

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  2. Such a great post Sophie! This was everything I needed to be reminded of, especially the first two. Given everything that has happened, our friendship couldn't have come at a better time! I am honestly so grateful and thrilled we met.

    You are super awesome and always a positive influence on me. I think a lot of people will relate to this post too. Thank you for being so great! I hope you have the best birthday, I can't wait to hear all about it :)

    Love your fellow cat and film fanatic,
    Tara xo

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    1. Babe - seriously the cutest comment I've ever had (possibly trumped by my mother below though haha). Thanks so much, that honestly means so much to me. I can't wait to share all the photos with you - SO MANY CATS! xx

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  3. Very well said Sophie! Im glad that the things ive said to you over the years have sunk in! I am very proud of you and the woman you have become. Looking forward to tonites birthday celebrations!☺❤

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    1. Ah shucks, thank you mummsy. Who taught you to comment on blogs?! Did you set up a google account?! x

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  4. Love this post! I am turning 25 next month and I definitely feel the same as you! Hope you have an amazing day x

    Zoe Mountford x

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    1. haha aw good to see it's not just me! Thanks so much hun x

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    1. haha exactly, I honestly feel like most things in life can be sorted with that simple rule x

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  6. Happy birthday for tomorrow lovely! I'm 25 in July so I know how you feel when you say that sometimes you feel it in your bones haha.

    Also, I definitely agree with 'don't be a dick'. It's like my Mum always said to me, 'if you haven't got anything nice to say then say nothing at all'. xx

    www.kirstytalks.co.uk

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    1. Thank you! Welcome to the club - I think we had a different box to tick once we turn 25?? Haha that's another good one - a classic but also very relevant. I hate it when people say "I'm just being honest" - nope, you're rude, shut up haha x

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  7. Love this post :) I turned 25 last October and felt like it was my proper 'grown-up' age where I'd learned a lot by. If only everyone had learned the importance of number 3, hey!

    Claire | Vanity Claire xx

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  8. Terrific post, Sophie! 'Choose your battles' reminds me of the guy in Eagle vs. Shark who obsessed over the guy who bullied him to the exclusion of everything else. Best wishes to you for all the celebrations coming up! And I understand why your mother is so proud of you :)

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    1. Thanks Gil! Ha yeah that's such a funny finale. Thanks so much - can't wait to share all the photos with everyone :)

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  9. Happy Birthday for tomorrow! This post is so good, some real words of wisdom. The whole 'treat others how you wished to be treated' rings true here. =^-^=

    Sam | Momentarily Dreaming

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    1. Thanks hun!! Definitely, that's another good one. And the same with "If you've got nothing nice to say, don't say it at all!" x

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  10. I love this post I'm 21 in December and the one I'm most common with is don't be a dick, and losing friends I definitely agree with the people are silly etc!

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    1. Ah still so young babe! Yeah you get alot of that at uni especially, most people don't even speak to the people they met in first year by graduation haha xx

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  11. Ha I love this post!! <3 Some great life lessons mentioned here!

    Amelia | http://amelia-g.blogspot.com.au/

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    1. Thanks hun :) glad I could share some words of wisdom haha x

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  12. Amazing post!! Losing friends is one I always agree with, things change! Don't be a dick is one I will always live by!

    Happy Birthday girl!
    Fix Me In Forty Five - A Beauty & Lifestyle Blog
    Blog Lovin' // Instagram
    xx

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    1. Haha totally. It's a sad part of life unfortunately - doesn't make anyone a bad person or mean there's something wrong with you. People just change :) x

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  13. Brilliant post!
    The don't be a dick is a good life lesson!

    http://leahrachelgoth.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. haha thanks hun, one of the most basic but most fundamental rules of life :) x

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  14. Brilliant post babe! The first point I agree with so much, it's crazy how many 'GOOD/REAL' friends I've felt out with over the past few years. I've only realised that I don't really need them to be happy in life. Lovely post, thank you for sharing this with us. Hope to see you on my blog www.its-dominica.blogspot.co.uk !! Have a lovely week. xXx

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    1. Yeah it's sad cos obviously it's never nice losing people or falling out but sometimes you just drift apart or lose touch. It's sad but I think life gets in the way sometimes. I've made so many excuses for awful people in the past and the best thing I ever did was take a step back. Thanks so much hun, you too. Will check it out :) x

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  15. Brilliant post
    With my own 25th fast approaching I definitely feel like I'm learning to 'live and let live' more too, just let them do them and I'll do me

    Thanks for sharing your wisdom!

    What Raj Wants

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    1. Aw that's great - how will you be celebrating?? Haha no worries hun, have a great Birthday :) x

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