Last week I fell in love with this article shared by a friend to me on Facebook. It really got me thinking and then inspired me to write my own list of what I’ve learned in the past twenty five years (soon to be twenty six..whoot whoot!).
1. You really aren’t helping yourself any by cramming all night for an exam.
2. Everything tastes better when your mom makes it.
3. Money will never make you happy.
4. Being skinny will never make you happy.
5. Always wear your sunscreen.
6. If a guy really wants to be with you, he will make a way for it to happen.
7. Chocolate cake won’t fix a broken heart, but it sure tastes delicious.
8. Nothing in the world is more important than having faith.
9. You can never have too much under-eye concealer.
10. Don’t drastically change your hair color on Valentine’s Day.
11. Life’s too short to always eat your vegetables.
12. Shots of gin out of a turkey baster are just a bad idea (don’t ask).
13. Never change yourself for anyone else.
14. Take time to pray every single day, no matter what.
15. If a guy shows up drunk to your sorority formal then proceeds to throw up everywhere…he’s not worth your time (again, don’t ask)
16. Always pack a change of clothes and a toothbrush in your carry-on.
17. There’s nothing better than completely losing yourself in a good book.
18. Bubble baths make everything better.
19. Always do what is right for you and no one else, and that involves what you eat, how you exercise and how you choose to live your life.
20. Keep a journal.
21. Don’t spend money you don’t have…even if it’s for the cutest outfit ever.
22. Travel whenever you can.
23. Invest time in keeping up with your girlfriends through calls, emails and letters.
24. Don’t carry barbecue sauce in your purse.
25. I’d rather make less money and do what I love than make bank and be miserable every day.
{ 121 comments… read them below or add one }
I love it Jenna! We see eye to eye that is for sure.
I wanted to tell you what #’s are my favorite, but heck, I love them all!
I want that shirt so bad, I will have to remember to keep my eye out for one.
They are at Amazon.com
I LOVE this post! #1, 2, 13, 17, 19, 23, 25 are my favorites!
I LOVE your list! I feel like I would have listed nearly everything you did! Thanks for the bright spot in my afternoon.
Jenna this is a great list!
Chocolate cake making things better, guys making it happen if they really want to be with you, not spending money you dont have…it’s ALL so true.
GREAT LIST, I love posts like this. And chai lattes, too
Jenna, this is amazing! I wish we weren’t so far apart because I think we were meant to be amigas! I love this post
This was perfect! I love it!
These all had me saying “yes!”
2. Everything tastes better when your mom makes it.
6. If a guy really wants to be with you, he will make a way for it to happen.
17. There’s nothing better than completely losing yourself in a good book.
22. Travel whenever you can.
Awesome
LOVE this list Jenna!
My favorite one: Always pack a change of clothes and a toothbrush in your carry-on.
SO TRUE!
True dat.
cute cute cute!!
btw did you ever get your purse clean?
no
I had to throw it away.
oh no! i loved that bag (i have an orla obsession). she does have a few really cute patterns out now, though
Yes! Just what I needed to read today.
Love this! I think I want to write my own list now!
I would also add to #24 that you should never carry ANY bottled condiments in your purse (mine was honey….and cleaning it was anything but sweet!
)
Great post. I am turning 25 on Monday. You may have just given me a birthday post idea. Thanks!
It’s a good list. I needed an uplifting list today!
A-freakin-men.
Especially the last one, and how it relates to #3. In fact, that’s something I’m working on right now.
A to the MEN.
Great post!
love this. so well said. Makes me wonder about your bbq sauce and sorority formal stories though
Awesome list! I love it. It’s so true that the little things are much more important than some of the things we think are major (What dress am I going to wear to a wedding? When am I going to make a lot of $$?, etc).
this post is AWESOME. love it. gonna try to think up my own 23 for my 23rd birthday!
LOVE this list! except i’m currently cramming for exams
whoops!
Hahaha reading blogs was a study break from my all-nighter. She’s caught us both red-handed! *blush*
i freaking love you. i hope that doesn’t sound creepy. i’ve been following your blog and making your recipes for about 9 months now and you’re the best!!
Love this! And that article is great–I’ve really been enjoying a lot of Relevant’s articles lately!
p.s. I really liked your hair dark!
I LOVE this post! Many of these ring so true in my life, too! And, yes, I still have yet to learn #1…
Beautiful list. So sweet. And true. And hilarious.
I would use these words to describe you & your blog: beautiful, sweet, true, hilarious.
I love posts like these!
Interesting takes on money. When I was younger I always thought money can’t make you happy but… If you don’t have enough money you can’t actually things to make yourself happy.
Yeah, I have to agree. Bottom line, money does alleviate stress (when you need it to survive that is, not talking about being a millionaire here!).
#6 and #19 – yes.
I give a huge “Amen” to #25.
Oh man! I LOVE posts like this. You know a lot of good stuff girl. I especially agree with #25. Life’s too short too be miserable every day and no amount of money can assauge away the pain of a terrible work life.
So true–especially #25.
This is great.. humorous, yet also brings things into perspective!
You are so wise, so much life experience in this list! I loved all the points!
Love this Jenna! Words to live by for sure and so true.
I loved this! They are all so true
LOVE THIS! Agreed 100%
Amen sista!!!
Great list! I need to remember #6.
Everything DOES taste better when your mom makes it!
ditto what momma Pea said!!
XOXO
awesome list….was laughing at some of them…and totally agreeing for a lot of them!
Love, Love, Love!!!
Note to self: pack toothbrush and change of clothes in carry on for my CA vaca. Thank you.
You are one wise 25 year old, Jenna!
I agree with every point! This just lightened up my day.
Love all of these!!! I can totally relate to #4 the most… my eating disorder during middle school made up the worst years of my life!!! so glad to have made a full recovery before it got too dangerous! Thankful for my loving parents! check out my blog sometime … http://fitnessfanatic007.blogspot.com
I love that list and its all so true.
1, 3, and 4.
HELL YES. Thank you . . . AP Tests, here I come.
I love this! I couldn’t agree more with numbers… well all of them! Thanks so much for sharing
Big fat amen to all of it, but definitely am letting the last one sink in. Those pesky bills sure do get in the way but it would be so worth it to finally see a change Goethe better in my own career!
I LOVE this post soooo much. I’ve been an ELR reader for a while now and reading your blog really is a daily ritual for me – I love your optimism and positive point of view
You’ve also been a big inspiration to me to keep blogging myself (www.epicureanbliss.com).
Number 13, number 6, and number 25 I especially love. I finally decided to follow my heart and go to culinary school so I could make a career out of my passion for food, and I’ve never looked back. Every day is an adventure, but I’m doing what I love!! Thanks for the reminder of how important it is to stay true to yourself
#14 and #23 are the only really important ones in life. They are the only things that make any of it worth it.
What a great list! They are all SO true!!
#1, #4, #6, #8, #14, #19. WORD. For freaking shizzle.
I had to find out all this stuff on my own too. Wish I’d known it years ago… er, I wish I’d listened to my parents!
Definitely some words to live by!
Once again, you’ve proven that you have the most adorable personality ever and are wise beyond your 25+ years! Terrific list, Jenna…thanks for brightening my day!
Hi Jenna,
I never comment, but thanks for this post! I loved 3-6, because they are so true but really all of the advice is great!
~linda
Love them
I concur!
All true!
That is some grade A advice right there
I love them all… so true!
I rarely comment but posts like this ALWAYS make me smile!
This could be one of the best posts you have done—-ever!
I love this. I am going to do this right now!
Great list! I think #21 is the most important! Student loans for an education is one thing, but the one thing I always stress to young people is not to have debt!
Yep. Honestly, I wish I had never gotten an “education” knowing the misery I’m in now.
Amen to that.
Such a fantastic post!! I can relate to some of those…..
You seem like such a fun person Jenna, and your blog truly brightens my day and makes me smile. Thank You!
I LOVE this…thanks for sharing
absolutely BEAUTIFUL post!!
I need to beat #25 into my brain and then figure out a way to make it happen. Cheers.
Thanks so much for sharing this with us Jenna! I was reminded of things we should all remember and learn! Let’s all live life to the fullest!
Jenna. I love your posts. I find myself re-reading them multiple times a day. Thank you! By the way, my husband and I are planning our 1 year trip (whoot!) to San Fran and Napa, Sonoma….and are doing it all by your recommendations under “Wine Country” Thanks for being our travel guide. We’ll be in your end of the world come September! (All the way from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.)
awesome!! September is the best month to visit the Bay Area—it will be gorgeous then!
totally true Jenna. Love it!
Amen Lady!
Thanks for sharing this list
Amen to not spending money you don’t have, especially when borrowing from a friend…
I can’t even list 19 things I’ve learned in my 19 years off the top of my head!
This is my new favorite post of yours. No lie.
I agree with all that think can be summed up with ‘be true to yourself’. Think that is ALL important. And if anyone in life isn’t affirming—get rid of them. Life is too short for people that bring you down.
BTW Jenna. Today in Carmel was AMAZING!! The Mission was BANKED with Casablanca Lilies—unreal & totally MAGIC. I met a jazz LEGEND in a coffee shop visiting here with his wife—both SO cool (when I say LEGEND I mean LEGEND) he speaks fluent French & travels all over Europe constantly. An honor to meet them. (Reminded me that ‘A Great Day in Harlem’ is one of my all time fave films). And had dinner at Casablanca Sat night w/a winemaker. FAB night!!
Then ran in somewhere for something to go & they were playing Dallas Green’s ‘The Girl’….reminded me of you & Adam. The girl (in the official video) even looks like you.
A person at 25 who knows being their own person, true to themselves, is someone who really gets it. That is a real gift. I remember when Goldie Hawn said she’d rather ‘pick dog-doo off the street for 25 cents an hour’ than compromise herself. I didn’t understand it at the time. Now I do. I think never be attached to money or things…only your own eternal soul.
You’re such a great girl!!! Love the post!!!
I love this list!! I think the ones that I most identify with are:
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 25
25 I always find that so many people who work 60-80 hour weeks in jobs they hate are doing so because they want to be able to travel on the weekends and have an amazing retirement. Well my dad worked for over 30 years in a job he didn’t like and he died a couple years into his retirement. You have to love what you do NOW, the future isn’t guaranteed!
That is SO true
It is true that anything mom makes tastes better. I love your list. It’s great.
Number 16 should just be a rule of thumb for life. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been stranded somewhere on this planet and having a toothbrush made all the difference.
Lovely list, Jenna. Very inspiring – you are wise beyond your years.
I love this list! Definitely inspired to make my own, now.
Im surprised by the gin comment. You seem more like a whiskey girl! Maybe that was the problem?
+1 to everything you said!
Beautiful list! You’ve inspired me to make my own.
Love this!
Awesome advice. I very much agree with money not making you happy (nor being skinny). I often (or too often) loose myself in a good book. My life advice is to live and let live. not to let others dictate your choices in life and not to judge others for their choices
Love this list Jenna! I just love reading your blog every day. Thanks for all of your writings
I love Shauna! Her husband, Aaron, used to be the worship leader at my church before they moved back to Chicago. Her books (Cold Tangerines and Bittersweet) are raw and honest and inspiring. I think you’d really like them!
Thanks for the fabulous list!! Made my day! I keep reminding myself of #6
I think that each one of these #’s speaks to me. It is definitely what I needed to read this morning.
Have a wonderful day!
#25 is my favorite. So many people think money will solve everything but you really can’t buy happiness!
Love love this and agree with them all!
I was going to name off the ones that I agree with, but then I’d rewrite the whole list practically! Good calls on all of them! #25 is what I’m dealing with now…
Great post! Some of them are SO TRUE!
LOVE This List!!
Been there on the Gin and Turkey Baster situation….it helps when the gin is mixed with Fresca
what a great shirt! too funny. I’ve never heard of relevant magazine before!
Great list. In regards to #9, do you have an under-eye concealer you recommend? I’m in the market for a new one…they discontinued mine! Thanks!
I love Almay!
You’re awesome. This is a great list.
Love this especially #9 and #14!!!
This list is exactly why I come here every day!
I love this list!
Being skinny might not make you completely happy but i don’t think any of the overweight people i know are happy with their weights, either. Otherwise I agree with these!
i shoved a bottle of wine in my massive purse/bag the other day and thought of your bbq sauce disaster. i figured the glass was a bit stronger. but still, it was my fave coach bag and i was nervous the entire time.
great advice
Love this post. I really love your blog, I have been following for a couple weeks now, but I haven’t had time to comment. I especially loved # 3, 4, 8, 14, 21, 23, 25 in this post. Thanks for the inspiration, I love blogging about food and I am pretty sure that yours is the best food blog ever! God Bless.
Love this post, lots of good ones!
Love it!! I think I’m going to make my own list too. I love especially the idea of being yourself, and not letting anyone distract you from that. Amen sister.
I really enjoyed reading your post! I’m only in high school but I definitely know number 1 is true, I should probably think about changing my study habits before college. LOL! As for number 2, I’m not so sure it pertains to me. My mom has attempted cooking for the last 17 years of my life and still can only make toast! At least she tries and that’s why I love her!
I think this is by far one of my favorite posts you have ever done
LOVE this list and I am totally adding a few of these to my list of “quotes” that I keep whenever I need to remember what is important in life 
Have fun with you Mom! I think it’s awesome you surprised her.
#25 is something I need to remember and something I wish more and more people would keep in mind.
Love this list! So true.
I do have a quick question for you…are you at Folly Beach in that picture? It looks so much like one of the stores we have down here?
I love this article – what a brilliant way to reflect on the years past and appreciate all those bumps in the road that you hated at the time but you actually learnt something from.
By the way, you have a beautiful blog. Simple enjoyment and celebration.
Great job for surprising you Mom too
well said
What a fabulous list. Thanks for sharing!
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