enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

20lessons

It's birthday month! I'm kind of obsessed with birthday month because my blog posts tend to write themselves. In three weeks, I'll turn 30 which means today I've got a round-up of the 20 biggest lessons I learned while in my twenties. While I could have gone on (and on and on) about each, I kept things simple. I linked up when the lesson corresponded with a blog post.

1. Don't fight hungry (or drunk) (or tired).

2. But if it still bothers you when you're fed, sober and rested – by all means – battle.

3. How to make perfect pizza dough.

4. Always end a speech with a call to action.

5. How to use a sewing machine.

6. "I can't do this but I'm doing it anyway." (best remembered in situations of half-marathons, deployment, 28 hour labors and speeches in front of 2800)

7. How to move. (as in houses & running the right way)

8. Want to make progress? Put your head down and work.

9. Say yes when it's terrifying and no when it's boring.

10. (And sometimes say yes to the boredom and no to the terror.)

11. If you're losing sleep it's the wrong fit.

12. Eat real food.

13. Count steps not calories.

14. Red wine > white wine.

15. How to drink black coffee.

16. A run solves most bad moods.

17. In the moment it's easier to hold a grudge; after the moment passes, it's easier to forgive.

18. It all comes back around.

19. The library is the greatest.

20. Trust your gut in both business and life; no one will ever care as much about your shit as you do. (And that's exactly how it should be.)

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35 responses to “20 LESSONS”

  1. Catherine Daly Avatar
    Catherine Daly

    Love this! So true – it’s kinda like your own Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Everybody’s free to wear sunscreen’! Maybe I am showing my age (31) there…!!

    Like

  2. Lori Avatar

    Bam! And as far as I’m concerned you can make a poster and sell these wise words.
    (If only I’d adhered to lesson #1 this weekend I could have avoided a few disagreements with my husband (that admittedly I started)).

    Like

  3. Kelsey Avatar

    #11 – YES!
    …unless you’re losing sleep because you’re so [bad word here] excited/motivated/inspired by the project/adventure/endeavor that you can’t get it out of your head/off your mind. Maybe pop a melatonin every few nights or scale back a bit, but don’t give up on something you’re losing sleep over because you’re passionate about it!

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  4. rashmi Avatar
    rashmi

    #20 just nails it! its going on my olw vision board

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  5. Carole Avatar
    Carole

    Amen. Amen. AMEN!!!!!

    Like

  6. Jen Avatar

    Totally needed this today. Thank you! (x 20)

    Like

  7. a touch of domesticity / katie sparrow Avatar

    Ah, much you have learnt my young padawan! (Sorry if you’ve not seen Star Wars and that’s lost on you. I, on the other hand, have boys aged 16, 5 and 3 and so know alllll about it!)
    I am slightly concerned though that I still haven’t fully learnt #8 and I’m five years older than you. Back to the Jedi academy for me!

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  8. kristina Avatar

    It may sound kind of cheesy, but listing your lessons this way helped me realize just how much your blog has taught me over the past 5-6 years. Namely: making a point to walk/move, goal-setting, saying no, being brave and admitting when you need help (although not on the list). Not to mention countless crafts along the way. I recently read a book called Slow Love, and one of the greatest lessons she learns (live slowly – appreciate each moment) reminds me you.
    After finishing University (and many – thrilling… – textbooks), I allowed reading to fall to the bottom of my to-do list. That said, I have read each and every of your book report posts, making mental notes along the way. This past weekend, I got my very first library card. I chose The Night Circus first – I can’t put it down.
    Thanks for taking the time to teach us while you’ve been learning. Happy birthday month!

    Like

  9. Stefania Avatar
    Stefania

    I am halfway through my 30s and I still have to learn almost all of these lessons…
    Really, I can’t believe you haven’t turned 30 yet… don’t get me wrong, of course I’m not talking about your appearance, I’m referring to your wisdom and life goals!
    You will rock your 30s, I’m sure!

    Like

  10. MIsti Avatar

    Yes!—-> 14. Red wine > white wine.

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  11. Sarah Avatar

    New Motto:
    “no one will ever care as much about your shit as you do.”
    Thanks as always for being real and inspiring.

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  12. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Yes! Definitely learned that this year.

    Like

  13. Hannah Avatar

    Such interesting lessons, really valuable!
    Hannah x
    Hanniemc.co.uk

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  14. Anna Avatar

    “I can’t do this but I’m doing it anyway” remains one of my favorite quotes.

    Like

  15. Christina C Avatar
    Christina C

    Love this, I just turned 32 on the 28th of January and I must say #20 are the words I live my now. Happy Birthday Month!

    Like

  16. Debra Carr Avatar

    Awesome post! I turn 30 this year too but I’ve been focusing on lists of things I haven’t done. I’m going to write myself a ‘learned list’ too or maybe a ‘learned from list’ 😉

    Like

  17. chloe Avatar
    chloe

    thank you for sharing these. I was nodding in agreement as I read through the whole post.

    Like

  18. Kassandra Avatar
    Kassandra

    This came at exactly the right time for me!! Life decisions can be made a lot easier once you know that others have gone through some of the same situations. I’m gonna trust my gut on this one 🙂 thank you!

    Like

  19. Natalie | Circus & Bloom Avatar

    These lessons are all wonderful and important! I’m at that mid-way hump between 20 and 30 and am hoping to glean from your wisdom. I really want to learn how to use a sewing machine and I want to start running more. I’ve just started running again and it’s so liberating! I experienced my first runner’s high since high school just a few days ago, woohoo! Thanks for these tips 🙂
    Circus & Bloom
    ♥♥♥

    Like

  20. Joy Avatar

    I also love the library. Was just thinking that the other day. What an awesome place!

    Like

  21. Thanh Avatar

    Hi Elise! As someone who turned 31 this past summer, I totally get it! ❤ Thanks for reminders.

    Like

  22. Cori Schwabe Avatar

    This is great! Happy Birthday month!

    Like

  23. Stacy Avatar
    Stacy

    I must have been channeling you at mile 11 of the Surf City Half on Sunday. “I can’t do this but I’m doing it anyway,” and “put your head down and work.” Plus, #16.
    Great post.

    Like

  24. JC Avatar

    I’m just discovering number 14 now at 27.

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  25. Kaelyn Avatar

    Number 8 is just what I needed to hear! Thanks@

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  26. Carrie Avatar

    I love this, E. So much wisdom for a person who is not even 30 yet. 😉
    Carrie
    http://www.wearwherewell.com

    Like

  27. alaina [so alaina] Avatar

    i’m not much of a commenter here, but i love reading your blog. elise, you are such an inspiration. i am a february birthday gal, also turning 30, and i just love hearing what you have to say around this time of year.

    Like

  28. Shauna Avatar
    Shauna

    I turned 32 last month. But I had a baby when I was 30. So for some reason she grows but my age stopped. I keep forgetting 2 years have passed, as it feels like she has always been around.
    I totally agree with most of these (doesn’t mean I follow my own or your advice). So stubborn – I wonder where my daughter gets it.
    I also learned in my 20s, follow your dreams. Don’t start and change 5 degrees because you think someone else wants you to be something (Or even worse you get stuck in a job because you did post grad to get a visa to a foreign country, that they then changed the goal posts and you couldn’t get anyway – which totally happened to me, I’m trying to figure out how to get out of this job, or change it somehow). They just want you to be happy. Whether you are a King or a street sweeper

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  29. Missy C Avatar
    Missy C

    What a great list – love it

    Like

  30. Gina Avatar

    All great lessons, especially number 8!

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  31. Kristin B Avatar
    Kristin B

    I really liked reading through the comments to see which number people connected with. I liked this one:
    13. Count steps not calories.
    I feel like it’s “increase doing something positive” rather than “decreasing something negative”. Positive reinforcement (increasing by doing something) rather than negative punishment (removing calories). My psychology-focused brain is lighting up like crazy.
    I also just listened to your podcast episode about mailing lists. I wasn’t currently subscribed to e-mail (as I do follow via RSS) but the episode has convinced/reminded me to join! 🙂

    Like

  32. sydney Avatar

    You rock! THis is excellent, thank you for sharing.

    Like

  33. Emily Avatar

    Fun list. I enjoyed reading it. 12, 13, 14, 16, 19. Yes, yes, yes, yes & yes.
    Although along with #14, I would add:
    Dark Chocolate > Milk Chocolate
    My wine & chocolate preferences changed at the same time.

    Like

  34. Lauren Avatar

    I love these all, but especially #20!

    Like

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