Life at 25: The Lessons That Changed Me
- Kristina Kotouckova
- Mar 25
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 28
Last weekend was my 25th birthday. And I have to say, I have never felt so satisfied with my own life. Nothing has gone according to plan for the past 6 months. I’m working as a part-time waitress. There are days when I wake up and have no idea what I’m doing. But I feel like I’m not pretending or hiding behind a job or a ‘life plan’ for the first time in my life. I simply am. Real, honest, vulnerable and messy.
And so, to commemorate this final year of the first quarter of my life, I have compiled a list of 25 things I have learned over the course of the 25 years of my life. So here it is. Life at 25: The Lessons that Changed Me:
Love fully. Give your all—no regrets if it doesn’t work out. When you like someone, don't be afraid to show it wholeheartedly. Be open about how you feel and think and if it still doesn't work out, you know you tried everything, and there won't be any regret moving forward.
Be real. Vulnerability is scary, but it sets you free. To allow yourself to be the most vulnerable, authentic and honest version of yourself will often feel like the scariest thing in the world- but it's the only thing that will set you free from all restrictions and limitations.
Face it. You can’t outrun what you’re avoiding. Face it with trust. The moment you start running away from something is the moment you need to realise you cannot outrun it. Take your time and trust that you can deal with it.
Make mistakes. Experience is worth more than regret. Don't be afraid to get it wrong. rather have more understanding from real life experiences than questions and hypothetical scenarios lingering in your mind forever.
Love freely. Don’t fear loving people, even if they don’t love you back. Let yourself love people without the fear and vulnerability of their possibly not loving you back. To love another human is one of the most beautiful emotions we can feel. The love you give out will always come back to you.
Take risks. There may be both consequences and benefits, but trust me, both will benefit you in one way or another. Better to find out than to have never tried.
Sleep heals. Do not underestimate the power of sleep. It will quite literally help you feel better, no matter what you're going through.
Trust yourself. Ask for advice and opinions, and share your ideas for feedback. But your intuition knows best, so at the end of the day, go with what you believe is the right choice.
Be kind to yourself. Don't forget to treat yourself as you would another human you love. Show yourself love, appreciation and forgiveness unconditionally, whenever you need it and desire it.
Show up. Show up to things; you can always leave, but at least then you can say you've tried. Any experience is a worthwhile experience.
Feel everything. Your emotions are valid; let yourself feel whatever you naturally feel occurring from within. There is no right or wrong.
Look at yourself. When you feel alone, remind yourself you are here. When you feel alone or sad, take a moment to sit in front of the mirror to remind yourself that you are there for yourself. Your reflection is powerful.
Speak up. Free yourself from mental prisons—say what’s on your mind rather than even at the cost of being rejected, mocked or laughed at.
Live inside out. Everything starts within you, not from the outside world. Live life inwards our. not outwards in.
Own your desires. Speak your desires, dreams and wants out loud with confidence. Do not shy away from what you want. Do not let the not knowing of 'how' or 'when' stop you from trusting that it will all transpire into your reality.
Ride the waves. After every low, a high will come—life is balance. There is no bad or good, just different. Learn to ride out the waves of life.
Enjoy your own company. Once you find enjoyment in being in your own company, it will become your greatest life skill. To feel whole alone nurtures charisma and lessens the feeling of loneliness.
Protect your energy. Don’t let others’ actions and behaviours define your self-worth. Life is too short to dedicate a day to every person who inflicts negativity and unkind behaviour onto us.
Accept your now. The first step forward is embracing where you are so let yourself be ok with where you are in life right now, right this moment. You are where you meant to be before getting to where you want to be.
Embrace emotional vulnerability. Emotional vulnerability can be terrifying, especially if you've grown up in an emotionally distant household. But once you gather the courage and strength to open up about how you think, feel and experience to those around you they will begin to see you not just for you, but for your heart, mind and soul. and that will feel amazing.
Forgive yourself. Always.
Invest in you. Never stop investing in yourself. Dress up, put on makeup, wear that expensive perfume, just for yourself. Little acts of kindness such as these will remind you that every day counts. Don't put off pleasure that can be enjoyed today till tomorrow.
Be present. The past was good, the future is better, but the present is perfect. Take your time to take it all in.
Feel your pain. Don’t suppress emotions—let them be heard. The best way to move through pain is to let yourself feel it. Take the time to create a safe space where your emotions can be recognised and heard.
Let go & trust. It's ok not to have everything figured at all. You're not meant to have it all figured and planned out. Life is about exploring, being spontaneous and trusting that what's meant to be will be. Truly and deeply learn to let go and trust that what is meant to be will be. You will experience moments and meet people you've never even dreamed of.
And just to remind you. A birthday is a year, not a day. Don't let yourself feel too much pressure over making the day something unforgettable... it's only supposed to be a day to celebrate and ease you into an unforgettable year.
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