25 things I’ve learnt in 25 years

My parents are having none of it, but I refuse to accept that 25 is not a big birthday. Surely a quarter of a century is significant, no? Twenty-flipping-five years old, that must be, like, a Big Deal. I’m confused as to how it has happened. When I was a child, I thought I’d be married with children by 26 (I know), but turns out that’s one year away and I still live with my parents and struggle to look after a plant.

Aside from how to look after a cactus, I think I probably have learnt a few things along the way, some of which are serious and some of which are not. Some of them are specific to me, but others are a little more universal. Let’s just say, I probably wouldn’t put any of them on my CV, but I thought I’d formulate them into a coherent list and pop them into a quick blog post. You may agree, disagree, or think I’m weird, but I’ll probably never know (see 17).

1. Emotions are clever old things – turns out they help you work out what you need.
2. I don’t like nightclubs (my uni pals may disagree).
3. The most important thing in a relationship is honesty.
4. Biscuit Tea is the absolute bomb.
5. Feeling upset/angry/hurt/annoyed is better than feeling nothing.
6. If I’m honest with myself, I don’t like the taste of ‘real’ coffee.
7. It doesn’t matter if you only have a handful of friends – quality over quantity applies.
8. I will not be happy when X happens.
9. Your opinion of yourself is completely different to someone else’s opinion of you.
10. It’s impossible to always be the best.
11. No one is 100% happy with their body.
12. If you want a bus to stop for you, you have to stick out your hand.
13. University will probably not be the best time of your life.
14. The things that our culture tells us will make us happy will only make us want more.
15. Prosecco tastes better than Champagne.
16. Not everything in life is a means to an end.
17. You will never know what other people truly think of you.
18. My singing voice in the shower does not reflect my actual singing voice.
19. I will never think I have anything to say in therapy.
20. Sometimes the bravest thing might look like a failure from the outside.
21. I don’t fool anyone when I say ‘I’m fine’.
22. I only like board games if I’m good at them (Monopoly – this is why I hate u).
23. The reason I haven’t written a novel yet is not because I don’t have the time.
24. Until very recently, I didn’t have my own taste in music because I just listened to the music that the boy I fancied liked. Now I am a strong independent woman.
25. An achievement will only satisfy you momentarily.

Which one can you relate to best?