Chapter 30: New Era, New Decade + 30 Things I’ve Learned

It feels so surreal to finally be typing this, but today I officially say goodbye to my 20s and hello to a brand new decade: 30!

As I look back on my 20s, I can’t help but smile. My 20s have truly been the best years of my life, at least so far anyway. I started this decade by meeting the love of my life, grew into the person I’d always hoped to become, and finally experienced the “glow up” my awkward teenage self spent years dreaming about. Childhood Kels would be in complete awe of the life I’ve lived and the person I’ve become so I can only be thankful for and proud of that.

Now, that’s not to say it was all sunshine, rainbows, and smooth sailing. There were plenty of setbacks, heartbreaks, growing pains, and lessons learned, often time the hard way. But that’s exactly what your 20s are for.

They’re some of the most transformative years of your life. The difference between your early 20s and your late 20s honestly feels like living two completely different lives. Looking back now, it almost feels like every five or ten years you become a new version of yourself, someone carrying more wisdom, more perspective, and more life experience into whatever comes next.

Early 20s Kels

She was working part-time in retail, working internships, navigating college, figuring out this whole “adulting” thing, and taking a leap by starting a blog to pursue my love of writing and creativity (okay.. technically I started it two months before turning 20, but close enough!).

She also met and started dating the guy who would eventually become her husband and very best friend.

Mid 20s Kels

She graduated college, entered the workforce, adopted our first puppy, moved out of my childhood home into our first apartment with her serious boyfriend, navigated a pandemic while thankfully keeping my job, and slowly built my little corner of the internet into something I was incredibly proud of.

I experienced jobs that inspired me, jobs that completely drained me, and eventually landed at a company that challenged me, supported me, and still feels like home today.

I also became much more intentional about my health, started moving my body in ways I genuinely enjoyed, and took my very first solo trip to NYC – a trip that ended up changing me more than I ever expected. It reminded me that I was capable of doing hard things all on my own. To this day, it’s still my favorite trip I’ve ever taken.

Late 20s Kels

These years somehow packed in even more life.

I earned two promotions at work, got engaged, married the love of my life, bought our first home, added another golden retriever to the family, traveled outside the continent for the very first time by honeymooning through Italy, took one of the biggest leaps of my life by giving my first public speech to an audience of hundreds, and, after years of struggling, finally healed my gut health.

I also experienced the hardest season of my life when I lost my dad.

That loss changed me forever, but it also gave me a deeper appreciation for the people I love and the life I get to wake up and live every day.

Looking back now, I realize my 20s weren’t just about checking off milestones, they were about becoming. More confident, more resilient, more authentic, more grateful, and most importantly, more me.

30 Things I’ve Learned in 30 Years

1. Your time and energy are your most valuable resources. Protect them accordingly.
2. What you do consistently matters far more than what you say you’ll do.
3. Health truly is wealth.
4. The little things usually end up being the big things.
5. Everything happens for a reason, even if you can’t see it yet.
6. Don’t forget to celebrate yourself along the way.
7. Growth lives outside your comfort zone.
8. Do things that scare you.
9. Work hard, but rest just as intentionally.
10. Never underestimate the power of a deep breath, a hot shower, a walk outside, sunshine on your face, or simply touching grass.
11. Eat yogurt when you have the hiccups (thank you to my Grandpa for this incredible life wisdom that has not failed me since).
12. Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean it’s what you’re meant to do.
13. If you’re the smartest person in the room, find a new room.
14. Stay curious. Never stop learning.
15. Listen when your body tells you something feels off.
16. Authentic friendships are rare. Invest in the ones that feel easy and genuine.
17. Cherish time with your family while you still can.
18. Appreciate what you have while you have it.
19. Do not pluck incoming gray hairs.
20. No job is worth sacrificing your mental health.
21. Speak up for yourself. No one else can advocate for you better than you can.
22. Feel your feelings. They’re meant to be felt, not avoided.
23. Take the solo trip.
24. Never settle – in work, relationships, or life.
25. Chase the dream, even if there’s no guarantee it’ll work out. Regret lasts longer than failure.
26. Stay true to yourself.
27. Rejection is often redirection.
28. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself.
29. Laugh often. Life doesn’t have to be so serious.
30. Love deeply, and don’t take the people you love for granted.

As I step into this next decade, I feel incredibly grateful for every lesson, every heartbreak, every adventure, every risk, every success, and every chapter that shaped who I am today.

And finally, I have to thank all of you.

My little corner of the internet has been with me throughout my entire 20s. Some of you have been here since the very beginning, and others have joined along the way. No matter when you found me, thank you for being here and for letting me share this journey with you.

Here’s to being 30, flirty, and thriving (if you know, you know) – I have a feeling it’s going to be a good one!

XX,

Kels