24 things I learned in 2024

Hi friends! As 2025 starts I wanted to reflect on my experiences and what I learned during 2024. So here's 24 things I learned in the year 2024. Enjoy!

1. It's okay to not have everything figured out. — Life isn't a straight path, or black & white. The beauty of life is that you don't know what's going to happen next, that's also the fun of it.

2. Setting boundaries is a form of self - respect. — The best thing I did for myself this year was create a separation of myself and the things and people that no longer served me, or were helping me grow. Boundaries are able to actually bring more peace and serenity in your life.

3. Social media is fake. — Social media has been and always will be a highlight reel, it's never the full story.

4. Self-care isn't selfish. — The one person you owe something to is yourself, so caring for yourself is the healthiest thing you can do. It's also a complete essential for your mental health and well-being.

5. You don't need to justify yourself and your choices to others. — People may not understand you and your choices, but they don't have to and they're not supposed to. Just be you and trust in yourself.

6. You're in control of your own happiness. — It may sound cliche, but happiness is a choice. If you're not happy the only person that can control that is you! We have the ability to choose our own mindset, so choose to be happy.

7. It's better to have quarters than pennies. — Essentially, a smaller close circle is richer than a bunch of low quality friends. Four people that add value to your life is exponentially better than a hundred people you can't count on.

8. You're allowed to change your mind. — What you may have thought you wanted a year ago, five years ago, or even two months ago may not align with who you are now and that's okay. It's healthy to edit your goals to help you continue to become a better version of yourself.

9. Everyone is a work in progress. — In my eyes you're a work in progress your entire life. The main goal is that you continue to progress throughout your life to continue to become the best you that you can be.

10. Love isn't always enough. — I have loved many people that are no longer in my life anymore. This is more than just romantic relationships, but friendships as well. I truly didn't realize until this year that when they say "when you love someone, let them go" is because sometimes that's the best thing you can do not only for yourself, but for the other person as well.

11. Comparison is the theif of joy. — Comparison creates unrealistic expectations of what our own lives should look like. It's so easy to assume that certain people "have it all together" when in reality everyone is living for the first time. Comparison holds us back from true peace and joy. Instead, use others success as inspiration instead of a measurement for your own self worth.

12. You don't have to be social all of the time. — Being a college student, it sometimes feels like an obligation to have to go out on the weekends, and go to that dinner or social event. When in reality, you are fully allowed to stay in your room and watch a movie, or go home for the weekend, or just give yourself a self-care night. Social batteries can expire and we all can need a recharge.

13. Your twenties are for experimenting and discovering. — You will not and should not know what you're doing in your twenties. Your twenties are meant for new experiencs and discoveries. Enjoy them and grow from them.

14. Advocate for yourself. — Plain and smiple; stand up for yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you.

15. Time truly does fly by. — Time can pass by more and more quickly, and it can become easy to overlook the moments that matter the most. It is crazy to me when I think about the fact that the year 2020 was five years ago, or that it's been four since I was in highschool, or 6 years since I got my driver license. The time really does pass quickly, so take in every moment, small and big.

16. True independence is emotional. — When we're emotionally independent it allows us live our life on our own terms and make our own choices that align with our values and goals. It helps you be in control of your feelings and embracing your own needs and desires. Emotional independece is one of the best ways to build confidence and gain personal growth.

17. You'll never regret the times that you were kind. — Never once when you look back at a conversation or situation where you were kind will you regret it, but you can look back at a conversation where you were not kind and find disappointment in yourself. Being kind is never a negative quality. In my opinion, it is one of the greatest and most powerful qualities a person can posess.

18. Change may be the most beautiful thing of all. — Change is how you grow. When you go through a change, or something foreign, and it's uncomfortable, that's when you are truly growing and developing. Change can be one of the scariest things we encounter, but its also what pushes us the most and makes us evolve. It is so incredibly beautiful to be able to be pushed into better versions of ourselves.

19. Trusting people takes time. — Rome wasn't built in a day and niether is trust. Trust is the true foundation in any relationship that holds meaning. It is never built over night, but instead rather something that is built through consistent actions over time. You also have no obligation to trust someone who has already broken your trust. Actions speak louder than words, if they wanted to be loyal to you they would be. If they wanted to be reliable, they would be. Trust is about vulnerability and consistent actions overtime, not false promises, lies, and the bare minimum.

20. The little things matter. — One of my favorite things about this year was appreciating the little things. Like when a restaurant has the crushed pebble ice that I like, or when I get the parking spot that I like, when my friends call me my nickname, when I discover a new song I love, when I get to hug my family, and when my two-year old niece says my name. There's more, but it's when I think about the little things that my heart fills with so much joy. The little things matter, because all those little moments help create a life full of such joy.

21. A smile goes a long way. — Just smile. Smile at strangers, smile at your friends, smile at your family, smile at yourself, and maybe even smile at the person who has hurt you. Just smile. You never know if it's someones "best day" or their "worst day." Something a professor once told me is that one day you could smile at someone you don't know and it could save their life. So just smile. It's so fun!

22. The "perfect time" doesn't actually exist. — It will absolutely, without a doubt, never ever be the "perfect time." The perfect time doesn't exist. So if there is a decision you want to make, just make it. Because when ever you do something for yourself or someone else it will be "the perfect time." Make your own "perfect," don't wait for it.

23. The first step will always be the hardest. — The first step is always the hardest, but it makes the second and each step after a little easier. You'll never get where you want to go if you don't start somewhere. So just take a step wherever you are, because wherever you go, you'll be closer to where you want to be.

24. The world keeps on spinning. — This is something one of my best friends and I started saying this past year. Because it will, the world will keep spinning no matter what. So wake up early, take time for yourself, save up for that trip you want to go on, go home on a weekend and hug your family, tell the people in your life that you love them, make the mistakes, learn from them, choose happiness and love yourself. Because the world will keep spinning regardless, and what a beautiful thing that is.

My name is Caitlyn and I'm so happy you're here :)