Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Earlier in Life
There are things you only learn after making mistakes.
Not because no one cared enough to tell you—but because some lessons don't land until you're ready to hear them. Still, there are moments I look back and think:
I wish someone had told me this earlier.
So here they are—the truths I learned late, but now carry with me.
You Don't Have to Have Everything Figured Out
I spent so much time worrying about being "behind."
Behind in life.
Behind in success.
Behind in knowing who I was.
What no one told me is that most people are figuring things out as they go. Clarity isn't something you wait for—it's something you build through experience.
Not knowing doesn't mean you're failing.
It means you're human.
Your Worth Is Not Earned Through Productivity
I used to believe rest had to be deserved.
That my value depended on how much I did, achieved, or endured.
I wish I had known sooner that my worth exists even on days I do nothing remarkable. You are valuable because you exist—not because you produce.
Rest is not laziness.
It's maintenance.
Not Everyone Will Understand You—and That's Okay
I wasted years trying to explain myself to people who were never going to understand me.
I thought if I just said the right words, they'd see my heart.
Some people aren't meant to understand you. They're meant to pass through your life, not stay in it.
Understanding is not a requirement for your truth to be valid.
Saying No Will Change Your Life
I said yes when I wanted to say no.
Yes to please.
Yes to avoid conflict.
Yes to avoid being seen as difficult.
I wish I had known earlier that every "yes" costs energy—and every honest "no" protects it.
Boundaries don't push away the right people.
They filter out the wrong ones.
You Will Outgrow People—and That Doesn't Make You Ungrateful
Outgrowing someone doesn't mean you don't appreciate what they once gave you.
It means you're evolving.
Some relationships are meant for a version of you that no longer exists. Letting go isn't betrayal—it's alignment.
Healing Takes Longer Than You Expect
I thought healing had deadlines.
I thought I should be "over it" by now.
I wish someone had told me that healing is personal, unpredictable, and deeply non-linear. You don't heal by force—you heal by patience.
There is no correct timeline for becoming okay.
You Are Allowed to Change Your Mind
I stayed in situations too long because I didn't want to look inconsistent.
I wish I had known that changing your mind doesn't make you unreliable—it makes you honest.
You are allowed to evolve.
You are allowed to want different things.
You are allowed to choose again.
Loving Yourself Is a Practice, Not a Personality Trait
Self-love isn't something you either have or don't have.
It's something you practice:
- In how you speak to yourself
- In what you tolerate
- In how you rest and recover
Some days you'll do it well. Some days you won't. Both count.
You Are Stronger Than You Think—Because You Had To Be
I didn't realize how strong I was while I was surviving.
I only saw it later, when I looked back at what I made it through.
Strength isn't loud.
Sometimes it's just staying.
If I Could Tell You One Thing
If you're earlier in your journey than I am, this is what I hope you know:
You are not late.
You are not broken.
You are not failing at life.
You are learning.
And one day, you'll look back and realize—everything you thought you were behind on was actually shaping you into who you needed to become.