27 things I've learned at 27.
Every year, around my birthday, I come up with a list of things I learned throughout the previous year of my life. I’m a few weeks behind this year! Nonetheless, in no particular order, here’s 27 things I’ve learned at 27:
There really is no place like home. My parents’ house feels sweeter every week I spend there the longer I live away from it, and some of the deepest breaths I take are when I arrive in New Smyrna Beach or Gainesville, Florida. Speaking of FL, I’ve been thinking of you all a lot lately – Floridians are the toughest people I know. Sending everyone who has been affected by these hurricanes all my love.
It’s never too late to try something new or for your dreams to come true. One of my biggest dreams has always been to play sports. 27 brought that dream to fruition – you can now find me on the ice playing sled hockey every Sunday. And given that my dad likes to say that I’m named after Michael Jordan, I think his dreams came true when I told him I picked 23 as my jersey number.
By the same token, do things that scare you. Walking into that ice rink the first week, was possibly one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever done. But it’s also probably one of the best things I’ve ever done.
My love for Jimmy John’s will never die.
Book the flight to go see your friends for the weekend.
Drink greens every morning. I swear (someone knock on wood), I never get sick anymore.
Life probably won’t look like you thought it would or maybe like you think it should. Loosening your grip on those expectations brings a lot more freedom and joy.
Early mornings back home, walking my dog around the neighborhood are my favorite mornings.
I struck gold with the family I have. Our annual beach trip with the entire family is my favorite week of the year. Cousins who double as some of my best friends is one of the greatest things life has brought me. But if you ever happen to be the one on the receiving end of one of our pranks and find an undisclosed number of mini ducks hidden around your house, you probably won’t think it’s that great. (Sorry, Rella. You’ll probably still be finding those when I turn 30.) (Good work, Alex. We’re officially a menace to society.)
On my 24 things I’ve learned at 24 list, I put that I can’t cook. At 27, I’m here to report that the tables have turned – not only can I cook, I love to cook!
Fitness has been important to me for a lot of years. But this year has been my most committed. Between Pilates, hockey, the rower and treadmill in my apartment gym, I’ve never been sorer, but I’ve never been stronger. The results of your own commitment is one of the coolest things to experience.
I still don’t know every single reason why I landed in Nashville when I did, but I know one is 100% Vanderbilt Health. Y’all have changed my life in ways I never thought it would change. I never thought I’d have one less medical diagnosis – thank you for fighting for answers for me.
No matter how old you are, sometimes you just need your mom.
Tailgate Brewery has the best pizza in Nash, and nobody can convince me otherwise. Get the whipped ricotta and thank me later.
Things change. Often faster than you thought they would. Do your best to enjoy where you’re at, because your life could change tomorrow.
Strangers in an airport are nice, a lot of the time. I’ve clocked more hours of solo travel this year than I ever have and every single time, I’ve been met with a stranger or even sometimes an unexpected familiar face, who got my crutches from the overhead bin for me or my bag off the carousel.
I really love a good bagel.
If the fire alarm is going off in my building in the middle of the night, it will probably take me a full five minutes and rolling over once to figure out that it’s not my alarm clock. (Confirmed: it was a false alarm, and I’m a deep sleeper.)
Never thought I’d be the girl who buys flowers for my kitchen counter, but I’m now the girl who buys flowers for my kitchen counter. They make everything so happy! (27 is truly a shocking age.)
Just figure it out is one of the best mindsets I’ve adapted. Grit matters. You can and you will figure it out. You can and you will get back up.
Friday Night Lights is still the best TV show ever. (And I maybe got over 40k views somewhere on the internet for quoting one of Coach Taylor’s speeches. Can’t decide if that’s an embarrassing or a proud accomplishment, so no, I won’t tell you where on the internet.)
And Tennessee Orange is still the ugliest shade of orange I’ve ever seen. This state has only strengthened my love for the Gators.
Download the restaurant apps. I pride myself on how many free Dunkin drinks I get and how many free sandwiches I get from Potbelly and Jimmy Johns. (Seriously. Leveraging point systems is a secret talent of mine.)
Keep the group chat with your friends alive.
Did anyone else know Uber drivers rate you as a rider too? (I have five stars, thank you very much.)
Sometimes, walking away is the best thing to do. But that doesn’t mean you can’t come back one day.
Your 20s are unstable and confusing, but 27 feels like it’s lining up to be the year that I’m most confident in who I am and what I’m doing. My friends are in a million different places and stages, but the end of my twenties already feels so much better. Because 22-year-old me would see that, and panic. But at 27, I’ve truly learned that all I can do is my best and what is meant to find me, will.