The 45 Things I Have Learned Over the Past Year

Oct 01, 2024

Here’s a list of 45 things I’ve learned (or relearned) this past year from some different areas of my life:

Parenting:

Parenting requires constant flexibility --Sometimes yesterday’s genius idea is today’s epic fail.
If you don’t have all the answers for your pre-teen, don’t worry—you’re not Google.
Boundaries with kids: teach them self-respect, while you practice not losing your cool.
Let your kids explore their interests—yes, even that fashion or makeup phase—and watch them shine.
Keeping up with a 9-year-old is like your CrossFit minus the gym fees.
Spoiler alert: your kids are secretly your life coaches.
Giving children responsibility builds their independence.
Being a present mom sometimes means prioritizing family over other commitments.
It’s okay to cry in front of your kids—it’s called teaching emotional intelligence (and letting them know mom’s human).

Being an Athlete:
Playing sports in your 40s is like meditation with sweat: good for body and brain.
Soccer has taught me the power of teamwork, on and off the field.
Age is just a number—unless you’re counting how long it takes to recover.
Competing in adult soccer? More like chasing personal goals while chasing a ball.

Marriage:
15 years of marriage teaches you that love doesn’t stay the same—neither does your favorite takeout.
Marriage = mastering the art of communicating without saying “Why didn’t you text me back?”
Nurturing a marriage is like caring for a plant. Sometimes it just needs sunlight (or less water).
Laughter is marriage’s secret ingredient.
Putting down your phones is like finding a magical portal to actually connecting with each other.

My Faith:
Faith is the secret sauce to handling everything life throws at you (even those Monday mornings).
Being a Christian is about constant learning and deepening my understanding of faith.
When in doubt, pray it out. And it helps if you pray not only when things are tough, but when they are good.
Surrounding yourself with people who share your faith helps you grow spiritually.
Friendships (and faith) grow when you’re willing to open up and dig deep.

Friends:
Friendships evolve, and that’s okay—some people come for a season, some for life.
Quality friendships are built on trust, not just shared experiences.
Making new friends as an adult? Think of it as dating, where you can swipe either way because everyone is not a fit. Also, you can have coffee and then not ask them out again.
Deep friendships come from open conversations, not surface-level connections.

Business:
Trust your gut. It’s got better judgment than your overly-ambitious to-do list.
Success happens when you marry your values with your goals (and avoid that 4th coffee).
Scaling back or pivoting your career doesn’t mean failure—it means growth.
Delegation is the secret to not losing your sanity while juggling kids and clients.
Being authentic in business is your superpower. Cape optional.
Perfection is overrated—progress gets stuff done (and leaves room for coffee breaks).
Growth happens when you ditch the comfort zone—and maybe try something crazy or just different.
Patience is essential for both parenting and getting that business deal done.

Personal Life:
Hobbies outside work is your stress-relieving, sanity-saving secret weapon.
Me-time is not selfish—it’s like recharging your phone so you don’t shut down mid-conversation.
Self-care must be scheduled, just like any other important task.
You don’t have to do it all—asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. And it’s a smart time-management skill.
Celebrating small wins keeps you motivated for the bigger goals.
Comparison is the thief of joy. Focus on your own awesome journey, not your neighbour’s.
Mistakes are just learning experiences—they don’t define you.
Change is inevitable, and it often leads to better things than you expected.
Gratitude is the secret to finding joy, no matter the situation.