30 Years, 30 Lessons

January 01, 2026

30 Years, 30 Lessons

Kiā Ora, Kaja nga ai I, Mingalaba and Hello my Whānau and Friends,

As always, I hope you're doing very well and haven’t lost your faith in humanity. If you need a hug, let’s pause here... I’m sending virtual hugs to you. 🤗

I truly hope your 2025 has been full of interesting twists and turns, detours, ups and downs but above all, I’m genuinely glad you’re still here. More hugs and kisses <3 xoxo

The year 2025 ended yesterday, and I hope you took a little time to reflect on the year and look forward to the new one with hope and dreams.

This is going to be my reflection on 2025 and the lessons I’ve learned over the last 30 years. You could say I had a big year filled with major life events and milestones one of them being turning the big 3-0 and feeling fabulous. Other major events include finally returning to Myanmar to see my family after 17 years, and moving to Australia after many years of planning and anticipation.

Obviously I’ve got a lot to unpack; maybe that’s for another blog post (or three 😅).

Turning 30: A Whole New Era

Turning 30 feels like a big deal. Like, I’m officially an adult now. Is 30s the new 20s they say well I guess we'll find out.
My 20s felt like learning how to be an adult, and 30 feels like actually becoming one. So without further ado, here are 30 lessons I’ve learned in the last 30 years please, take them with a grain of salt:

💡 30 Life Lessons at 30

You still don’t know everything.
You think you’ve lived enough to understand life and people... then you get humbled again. Every. Single. Time.
Cherish the good and kind people in your life.
They’re medicine for the soul. Keep them close.
Your circle of friends shrinks as you get older.
I’m okay with that. I’d rather have a few genuine friends than a crowd of acquaintances.
Your thoughts are not your reality.
I’ve had many negative thoughts, but I’ve learned to acknowledge them without letting them ruin my day.
Crying is therapy.
Not all tears are created equal. Science backs this! crying releases oxytocin and endorphins that ease pain.

Some days you just need it let it all out...
Sleep is more important than you think.
Years of insomnia taught me this. Get your sleep before it affects everything else in your life (I am still working on this)
Nature heals.
A recent 3-night camping trip near a lake reset my whole nervous system. Highly recommend.
Get yourself a good therapist.
Its 2026! Lets not judge for having a therapist. It might not be “a thing” in our/your culture, but talking to a professional helped me cope and grow.
Your parents are not perfect.
They're human. It’s their first time being parents too. Forgive their shortcomings and honour them.
Enjoy the process of becoming you.
Aim to be 1% better every day. And give yourself grace
Expect more from yourself
Don’t wait for things to happen go make them happen. You are more capable than you think.
Expectation and accountability are different.
Expect less to avoid disappointment but still hold people accountable for their actions.
Keep your personal boundaries.
Boundaries aren’t walls, they’re doors that show people how to love you better. Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.
Just because everyone’s doing it doesn’t mean you have to.
It’s your life. Screw fitting in. Live it your way. Keep your core values and beliefs.
FOMO?
Stop comparing. Comparison really is the thief of joy.
When life hits a plateau…
Life is not all about ups and downs so please don’t panic. Use it as a moment to reset and recalibrate.
This too shall pass.
Hold on. Even the darkest moments eventually pass.
Health is wealth.
No more excuses move your body, eat well, and take care of yourself. You don’t have to wait for New Year’s to start.
Take yourself on solo dates.
Explore, treat yourself, and enjoy your own company and be your best friend.
Volunteer.
Do something that’s not for money it broadens your world and humbles you.
Humour goes a long way.
The ability to laugh at yourself or just laugh in general goes a long way. You don’t need to be serious all the time. Some days, all I needed was a good laugh watching stupid cat videos to fix my mood.

Me on a bad day watching funny cat videos
Never stop learning.
Don’t let your beautiful brain go on autopilot. Learn something new even just a small thing.
The world isn’t always black and white.
People and situations are complex. Life is made of shades of grey. Lead with empathy.
Find your tribe.
Moving countries taught me how important community is. Your tribe = your lifeline.
Eat a well-balanced diet.
Gut health matters. Yes, I’m more health-conscious in my 30s. You just have to be 😅
You don’t need alcohol or drugs to have fun.
Seriously. If people judge you for not drinking, you’re probably in the wrong crowd.
Pray.
Faith has never failed me. It’s taught me patience and humility. God’s got you, boo boo.
Home is where your loved ones are.
After four countries and countless homes, I’ve learned that homesickness is really just missing your people and the places where you created your Favorite memories.

Seriously though I miss NZ so much
I love life.
Even when it hurts. Even in darkness. It’s still worth living. Please stay. It gets better.
Life is short tell your people you love them.
Say it. Don’t hold back. A kind word can go a long way.