What I Learned at 26

How is it already time for my obligatory birthday post?! 26 flew right on by and I cannot believe I am now 27. At 26, a lot changed for me in a very short time period. This was the year I let myself fall for someone new, watched my best friend get married and moved out on my own for the very first time. I also faced some career setbacks and really had to grow up. While a new volume in the book of life is always exciting, there is so much value in reflecting and seeing what steps we took to get to where we are now.

One: A Change in Appearance is Healthy

Selfie from the day I chopped my hair off!

Starting off strong we have my first big change from 26, chopping off my hair! I used to have crazy long hair for the longest time that went halfway down my back. It was beautiful at the time but over the years I realized I started hiding behind it. With such long hair it became easy to put it over my face and take a step back in my everyday life. Come October of last year I decided enough was enough and I chopped off my hair to my shoulders. That one decision helped my confidence so much. I was finally able to talk to new people and be brave in public settings. No longer was I hiding behind my appearance, instead it was the perfect opportunity to take pride in my personality and be open to new people and new experiences. It was scary at first but it has helped me grow as a young woman so much and has made it easier to attract the right people in my life.

Two: Say Yes to New Opportunities

Snapshot from the Seattle trip that changed everything!

A large common thread of this past year was saying yes to new opportunities. For me this looked like taking a risk with my other business Gals Need Pals and starting a chapter in Seattle WA! I never thought I would do business in my hometown but there I was back in Western WA where everything began for me. I also took opportunities to be on television speaking to thousands of people through the news which was another massive win and change. I had never been in the public eye in that way so it was definitely surreal and I actually absolutely loved it.

Alongside career opportunities I started saying yes to meeting more people whether that was friends or ultimately meeting my boyfriend. I really found my people at 26 and have created a fun community around myself. This has looked like a true friend group to have dinner parties with and I have a beautiful collection of memories from this past year including seeing a childhood friend get married and going to Las Vegas with my best friend. Allowing such opportunities in and putting myself in rooms I never expected to be in has helped me so much as a young entrepreneur.

Three: A Step Back Isn’t a Failure

One of the more embarrassing parts of this past year was realizing I was not making enough money as a content creator on my own. It was heartbreaking getting to the point where I realized I needed another job to support myself. I ended up getting a part time job at a local boutique and while it hasn’t been my favorite role it taught me to accept failure and remember I am more resilient than I thought. Through this role I have rediscovered my love of social media management which was a big win for me.

As I have gotten older I am realizing there is beauty in keeping some parts of life private. That is looking like deleting my vlogs and understanding that my social media skills are adaptable for roles outside of myself. My goal for this new year now is to run a few social media accounts for local businesses as well as manage my own and Gals Need Pals of course. I think this new approach to business is going to be great for me and I really do look forward to having my schedule back as I prepare for some big events in 2025!

Four: Choose the Good Guy When Dating

So this was a major life change at 26, I finally got a boyfriend! After being single for nearly 7 years, I was so excited to finally meet someone I liked that liked me back and wanted to commit to me. I met my sweet boyfriend on Hinge of all places after swearing I would never go back on the apps. I was honestly a bit bored when I made a profile that Wednesday evening but I am so glad I did because we matched, started chatting and haven’t stopped since. At first I was a bit nervous to talk to him because he was so kind and that was so out of my comfort zone. I got so used to men who didn’t care about me and I thought that was all I would ever have from a partner.

Low and behold what I actually needed was someone who was nice and supportive of me and my career. We went on our first date 5 days after our initial match and we went on 3 dates that first week. I never thought I would connect with someone so fast but once he took me to Cold Stone on that second date I was hooked. Fast forward a little more than a month and we were already officially boyfriend and girlfriend. It has been such a treat getting to know him and grow closer through our weekly adventures. I feel very lucky and I am proud of myself for finally letting someone in and realizing I do deserve a happy healthy relationship.

Five: Do the Thing That Scares You

Screenshot from one of my first videos in the new apartment!

The big thing I did this year that scared the heck out of me was moving out on my own! I had never lived alone until this summer and at first it was terrifying. I have only ever had roommates or my family with me so it was a bit nerve wracking being in a new space all by my lonesome. Fortunately I have slowly gotten used to this new lifestyle and it’s been lovely creating my own apartment and decorating how I see fit. It’s also been a rather frustrating experience I will be fully transparent with you. As someone who is used to having help and not completely relying on myself its been challenging sometimes making sure things stay clean and I am taking as good of care of myself as I can.

There is also the isolation factor that has been extra challenging. My friends all live with their significant others and my boyfriend lives with his family so I find myself being on my own a lot. While it is good for me to get that time to recharge and enjoy my own company, it can be tough being alone for sometimes days at a time. I like my socializing and I do find myself becoming sad if I am away from my people for too long. I’m just grateful that this chapter won’t be forever and I can say that I did this!

Six: Money isn’t Everything

The real signifier of wealth, having a robust community

Finally my last lesson at 26 was money isn’t everything. Of course we all need money to survive but I am making it a point to really take care of myself and enjoy the simple things in life including but not limited to being out in nature, enjoying the company of others and learn how to enjoy life without making a crazy amount of money. I also have been learning how to budget and plan for my future. For so long I lived on whimsy and did not have clear savings and life goals. Now that I’ve hit 27, I am a lot clearer in what I want from my life and I can’t wait to plant the financial seeds today to be thriving in a few years.

If you are going through a financially troubling time, just know I see you and you aren’t alone. The key now is to focus on the good and see what you can do to make small improvements. For me this has been shopping less and reminding myself that I want to buy a house and raise a family one day. If I start planning for those life changes now, when the time comes we should be good to go. Plus in the meantime when we aren’t financially where we thought we might be, use this opportunity to become more frugal and scrappy. You can never replace hard work and a true work ethic plus it gives you the opportunity to learn how to enjoy the free and little things in life!

Here is to 27!

This may just be my most vulnerable blog post yet! If you are like me and a little scared to enter your late 20s this is your reminder that everything is going to be okay. 26 was a year that finally gave me some peace and I learned so much about myself and my friends during this time. I never would have expected the things to go down that did in these past 12 months and it makes me so excited to see what 27 has in store for me. I can only imagine it will be a treat! To keep up with my life and get the most up to date information, be sure to visit my Instagram and TikTok!

Until next time,

Lauren

6 Life Lessons I Learned at 26