25 things you must have done before your 25th
It has happened. I am a quarter of a century old. A half Sarah, god, where has the time gone? Of course, my 25th B-day was celebrated on Saturday with the perfect combination: a lot of vino, sushi, and friends. But it also made me think. What should you have done before your 25th?
1. Book a ticket to the middle of nowhere
Haven't you traveled after your studies? Didn't take a sabbatical? And still no kids? Then the time is now, my friend. You're young, just go away for at least a month to think about all the things you normally have ‘no time’ for. Who am I? Where am I now? What do I actually want in life?
2. Do something drastic with your hair
Dye it, cut a fringe (check, I was eighteen), something that brings a totally new you to life.
3. Forgive that one person
Hatred is way too heavy an emotion to carry in your heart for the rest of your life. And resentment is just as stupid. Plus: in the end, you are the one who suffers the most. So my advice (or Elsa's...)? Let it goooooo.
4. Learn to cook
You know what? Because I also find cooking terribly difficult, you get five extra years bonus. And these are the 16 dishes you should at least be able to make by your thirtieth.
5. Open a savings account
For later and such. For when the shit suddenly hits the fan and you're glad you have something else on hand. And, two hundred euros in two years is not saving, okay? Watch out for that.
6. Learn another language
Just saying: being fluent in Spanish/French/Chinese is super hip nowadays. And you're never too old to learn a language.
7. Buy a designer bag
Because I want everyone to have a friend for life with it. Read this Just tell the story and you're sold, trust me. Plus; if you stick to point 5, this is easy to do.
8. Travel to a destination unknown
I did this just after my twenty-fifth, but hey, it's on the agenda. Together with my bestie to the airport and let ourselves be surprised. And who knows, we might end up somewhere in Lutjekut, but I think we can still have a party there.
9. Do something exciting
Diving (god, that's one hell of an effing thrill), bungee jumping, paragliding, practicing an extreme sport; push your limits!
10. Kiss a woman
Even if it's just to understand Katy Perry's songs.
11. Realize that quality is more important than quantity
Friends come and those same ‘friends’ go again. So now your very best girlfriends can be counted on one hand. And that's actually perfectly fine.
12. Wake up next to a stranger
That one night stand must have happened at least once in your life, right?
13. Accept your shortcomings
So life doesn't always go the way you want. You make mistakes along the way. Realize how far you've come and that you've evolved from a young girl to a grown woman. You're old enough now to accept yourself as you are.
14. Understand what offside is
And even better, explain it to a guy for extra bonus points.
“That one night stand must have happened at least once in your life, right?”
15. Overcome your fears
Afraid of spiders? Fear of flying? Panic attacks? Try to tackle your fear step by step. And seek professional help if necessary.
16. Know when to keep your mouth shut
Still working on that one.
17. Do a striptease
Under the pretense of: everything is still neatly in place now.
18. Go on a date with yourself
Dining out, the cinema, a day of shopping in your favorite city, a day road-tripping through the countryside; why do you always have to take someone with you?
19. Book a ridiculously expensive hotel
To then live on Brinta for the rest of the month. Should be doable.
20. Point to something on the menu with your eyes closed
And then order it and actually eat it. Who knows, you might discover your favorite dish.
21. Simplify your wardrobe
More more more is not always better. Now it's time to invest.
22. Do something to come to terms with yourself
A yoga course in Ibiza, a silence treatment in Thailand, or meditating in your living room. Do something to let your inner free spirit come out.
23. Learn to say no
Against peer pressure, against the 53rd birthday of the neighbor across the street that you just don't feel like, against that friend who only calls you when she needs something, and especially against telemarketers and street vendors. Because that last one is really terror. Read here how terror by the way.
24. Staying up all night to watch series
But really the whole night, okay? With your boy, a girlfriend, or maybe even better: alone. And first stop by the supermarket to grab everything you like. I did it recently at, uh, Temptation Island.
25. And above all: enjoy, enjoy, enjoy
Because time goes by way too fast. Before you know it, you're already sipping a glass of advocaat while wearing glasses. First up to thirty, okay?
