Today I turn 25. Twenty. Five. It amuses me that I had teachers who were this age at school and I remember thinking they were so much older than I am. The reality was I was maybe 16/17 at that time. 25 doesn't feel all that old but at the same time it feels like a freakin' lot of living. If you're a longtime reader around these parts you'll know I am a sentimental soul. Today I thought I'd put together a post of 25 things I've learnt in 25 years for something fun to look at in years gone by, selfish blogging at its finest, but also because I love reading these types of posts and articles elsewhere...

1) Remember to look up. I mean literally. We're probably all guilty of mindlessly wandering with our heads peering down at our phones. Heck, I noticed on my train last night that the whole car was full of people looking at their screens. You never know what you might be missing. I get a lot of my creative inspiration just by taking in what is around me, seeing what people are wearing, noticing a colour on a building that I love and will subsequently make me smile. That and the sky has the tendency to look rather beautiful; millennial pink sometimes even. Anyway, look up! 

2) You can always make time for what you enjoy. Too often I hear "you read so much, I wish I could read like you do." It could just be a case of training yourself to sit down with a book or perhaps even allotting time in the day to read. For instance, I try to unwind from all tech around 9.30 and read for half an hour or so. That and I try to read on my train trips to and from work which is another reasonable chunk of time.

3) Be kind to one another. It goes without saying. You never truly know what's going on in someone else's mind unless of course they tell you. That and kindness goes a long way. Compliment someone on their amazing style and it might just make their day a bit brighter. Send someone a handwritten note or flowers just because. Kindness is never going to go out of fashion. 

4) Don't feel pressured to hold on to threads of relationships that were never that strong to begin with. I've had my fair share of toxic friendships and it goes without saying, they never left me feeling that great. If someone treats you badly, the relationship is one sided or you've just naturally drifted, don't feel obligated to maintain that. There's plenty of new people around to meet and come into your life. 

5) "If my life wasn't funny it'd just be true, and that's unacceptable." -Carrie Fisher. I think there's great power in being able to find the funny. My life has had its moments, good and not so good but I find being able to laugh and maintain my sense of humour during the toughest times is such a godsend. Alway find the funny and you're set.

6) Caring a lot isn't a bad thing all the time. I care a lot. Perhaps sometimes about things I shouldn't have but also ideas that are important to me and of course the people I love and admire. 

7) Writing is cathartic. I will get ideas at the most bizarre times and places but I always, always note them down. I write lots of ideas and musings down that I am going to try to make sense of someday but also because I find writing so therapeutic. Something about putting pen to paper relaxes me, it always has.

8) Listen to the music you want to and don't care what anyone else thinks about it. Music preferences are such a personal, intimate thing. It's also wonderful and life is too short to listen to music you don't really like. Just because it's in the top forty or everyone's obsessed with it, doesn't mean you have to pretend to be in on it as well. See: 95% of the music I listened to in high school up to the age of 17. Cringe.

9) Do not be afraid to ask for help if you're struggling. I mean in the mental sense more than anything. Please reach out if you ever feel at a loss or confused about the chaos your mind might inflict upon you. Speaking to a trained professional or someone you deeply trust can help you unpack the thoughts you have and realise why they may be so prevalent. It took me a long time to view seeing a counsellor as not admitting defeat so I know how hard this can be. Honestly though my counsellor is amazing and I am so thankful I found her. 

10) If you want to eat ice cream for breakfast, DO IT. Dessert for dinner? Yes please. We need to turn the tables every now and again.

11) Travel. It will enrich your mind and allow you the opportunity to escape, discover and enjoy.

12) Wear makeup for you. Nobody else. Obviously if you don't want to wear it at all, disregard this one. I wear makeup for myself and view it as a kind of armour. A bold lipstick makes me feel like I can handle anything and I know that may sound superficial and silly but it just does. 

13) Don't forget to stop and give yourself credit every now and again. When it feels like everyone else is off building their dream houses or getting married and doing "adult" things it can be easy to feel inadequate. Is this just a twenty-something problem or a societal conditioning problem? Regardless, what I am getting at is be proud of your achievements. All of them.

14) Find something you're passionate about and remain tremendously interested in it. Loosely paraphrasing Julia Child here but for me that is magazines. Oh hey glossies *waves*.

15) Don't be afraid to say no. Again, need to practice what I preach because I certainly went through a "just say yes" phase. Good in theory, not so good in retrospect. If you don't want to go out to that shady bar or would rather stay inside with Netflix than go out on a Saturday night, you do you. Don't feel guilty! 

16) Coffee might not be the elixir of youth but it is a ritual best savoured on early mornings. Hi commute life, here's looking at you.

17) If the shoes are broken, chances are they're going to continue breaking and yes, you will need to buy new ones. Case in point: I've binned two pairs of shoes in the last two weeks whose soles fell to bits.

18) If in doubt, ask yourself what would _________ insert name of your idols here do. For me that'd be; Alexandra, Alexa, Florence, Helena-I could be here all day.

19) Music and literature in tandem and separately can cure a multitude of ills.

20) See also chocolate.

21) and fresh flowers.

22) You won't be able to ever please and be liked by everyone. That's okay. Don't try to achieve unanimous appeal. It will exhaust and bore you.

23) Courtesy of the lady I want to interview most; "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that." -JK Rowling

24) Wear the crazy statement earrings, shoes, glittery eyeshadow, whatever. Clothing and the like should not be dictated by a time of day.

25) Remind yourself daily to be kind to yourself. Always.