🔮 Life Lessons at nearly 36: What I Know

So, I turned 36. It’s not a milestone like 30 or 40, but it feels like one to me. Maybe because this year, more than any other, I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve learned, not from books or YouTube videos (though I love both), but from actual life. The kind of lessons that sneak up on you after experiences, mistakes, long walks, good books, many jobs, and quiet mornings when your thoughts are finally louder than the noise.

Here are 7 life lessons that have shaped me, and continue to guide me, as I head deeper into my late 30s.

1. Speak Less, Listen More

It took me years to understand that not every moment of silence needs to be filled, and not every opinion needs to be voiced.

When I was younger, I felt the pressure to contribute, to have something to say. But over time, I realized that being a good listener doesn’t just make you more likable, it makes you wiser. You learn more when you're not the one doing all the talking. You catch the subtext. You notice the hesitation in someone’s voice, or the spark when they talk about what they love.

Listening creates space. Space for others to express themselves, and space for you to reflect before reacting. It's not about being passive, it's about being ...really... present. And when you do speak, your words carry more weight. And when I started to do that, I started to get even more positive feedback from people around me, and I saw how I took better decisions also.

2. Read from Everywhere

If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that curiosity keeps your brain young.

Over the years, I’ve learned to read far and wide, business, psychology, the occult, personal finance, technology, history, about cars, football etc. Not only does it keep life interesting, but it makes you a better communicator. You become someone who can connect with different types of people, who can jump into a conversation about technology, sport, or ancient gods without sounding clueless.

You don’t need to be an expert in everything. Just read enough to understand the basics and to ask good questions. Knowledge is a bridge, and the more topics you can walk across, the wider your world becomes.

3. Always Save Not Just for Rainy Days

I used to think saving money was about emergency funds, broken fridges/washing machine, or surprise doctor visits. But now I know it's also about dreams. Side projects. Second chances.

Saving is freedom.

It’s the difference between I have to stay at this job and I have the option to take a leap. It’s the fuel behind a “Plan B,” the seed money for a book, a business, or an escape. You don’t always know what you’ll need it for, you just know that someday, you will.

So yes, save. Not just to survive, but to choose.

4. Sharpen Your Skills, Always

Even if you have the "perfect" job, the good salary, the predictable routine… never stop learning.

Why? Because life is unpredictable. Markets shift. Companies restructure. Roles disappear.

But also, because you change. What lights you up at 26 might bore you at 36. And the skills you build now might unlock the door to something you can’t even imagine yet.

Learning keeps your confidence alive. It reminds you that you’re capable. And in a fast-moving world, staying still is the riskiest move of all. So, learn a skill.

5. Take Long Walks

It sounds simple, but it’s powerful. Walking is where I solve problems. It’s where I brainstorm ideas, talk to myself, and reconnect. Long walks are therapy, only cheaper...hahaha...and with better air.

There’s something sacred about putting one foot in front of the other, without a destination, letting your mind wander. Whether you’re in a forest or just looping around your neighborhood, walking clears the clutter in your head and reminds you of that wisdom within.

6. Meditate Even for Five Minutes

Meditation has been one of the most grounding practices in my life. It’s how I return to myself when everything else feels too loud. It reminds me that beneath the thoughts, to-do lists, worries, and noise… there’s something still, and steady, and strong.

You don’t need to meditate like a monk. Just a few quiet minutes in the morning and evening. Just enough to breathe and listen inward. It’s not always easy, you may be busy...BUT... but it always helps.

7. Eat to Live, Not Just to Fill

Growing up, I was lucky to be part of a family where fast food was basically off-limits, not because we were trying to be trendy or healthy, but because we simply saw it as junk. And honestly, we couldn’t really afford it anyway. I remember when I was young we couldn't afford for example McDonalds, it was expensive for us. That meant we cooked. Always. Every meal came from our own kitchen, made with whatever we had.

One rule in our house was never to cook for several days at once. My relatives called that “dead food.” We tried to eat fresh, as much as possible, warm, nourishing meals made that same day. That idea stuck with me over the years.

Even now, I love cooking. It’s something sacred to me. I stir reiki symbols into the pot, bless ingredients as they go in, and maybe that makes me a bit of a kitchen witch, and I’m okay with that. I always tried to make meals that were simple but full of care, love, and nutrients.

Food isn’t just fuel, it’s communication...yes it is. Every bite tells your body something. It's not about chasing perfection or cutting out everything delicious. It’s about honoring your future self by taking care of your present one.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean boring. It means being intentional. Choosing foods that energize you, that support you. Food that makes you feel alive.

And honestly? There’s something deeply comforting in knowing you’re nurturing yourself, body, mind, and spirit - one meal at a time.