Tomorrow is my 31st birthday. Like most people on their birthday, I am truly stumped at how my age continues to increase at such a rapid rate. I swear I was 23 just a few minutes ago. Alas, this is not the case. My 30th year was an interesting year for me personally and I am glad it will soon be over. It’s been a year of change, challenges, despair, love, and growth. I’ve been reflecting on the person I am becoming, the person I was, and who I want to be. I realized the more I learn, the less I know (much like my relationship with chemistry), yet I have accumulated a few true pearls of wisdom in my (nearly) 31 years. Some of these are relatively new life lessons (numbers 19 and 23) while others are more well-rooted in my psyche.

1. Embrace the person you are becoming, but…
2. Remember your roots.
3. Cherish your parents. Your friends. Your family.
4. Never go through life without a pet.
5. Do not expect from others what you wouldn’t do yourself.
6. Say yes first, then figure out how later.
7. Find a job that utilizes your strengths rather than looking down on them.
8. Create your own niche.
9. Work in a children’s hospital (if not work, volunteer at one!). It will change your perspective on life.
10. Practice manners everyday. That way, when thrust into an emotional and/or difficult situation, you’ll have a strong foundation in which to act responsibly and respectfully.
11. You’ll never regret doing the *right* thing, whether it’s being honest, working out when you feel too tired, or sending a thank you note even after months of forgetting.
12. Be pleasant and respectful. Not only is it the proper way to behave, it will get you much further in life than malice and pretension.
13. Comparison is the quickest way to ruin a good mood.
14. Appreciate good health.
15. Remember that bad habits are easy to form, yet difficult to break.
16. Have faith in the learning process.
17. See past the little messes, both literally and figuratively.
18. Count blessings. Every day.
19. Make the bed every morning.
20. Travel as much as possible.
21. Follow-through on plans.
22. Sometimes, you just need to take a nap!
23. Red wine.
24. Exercise should be equal parts for health, strength, and weight. Avoid too much emphasis on the latter.
25. Have a small treat everyday.
26. Establish various outlets: creative, physical, emotional, spiritual. Practice these frequently.
27. Quality over quantity will always reign.
28. Make coffee at night for the next morning. And always make enough for an extra cup or two.
29. Nothing good happens after midnight.
30. Drink one cup of water in between each adult beverage. Hangovers get worse with age…and kids.
31. Be the home stragglers land at.