25 things I've learnt and thought a lot about in my 25 years on earth.

Call your mother and thank her.

“Don’t Practice What You Do Not Want to Become.”- Jordan Peterson

This will be the first time I’ll be home for my birthday in about 5 years and I am bloody excited about it. Life has been spontaneous and full of joy these last 5 years since I packed up and headed into the unknown but it will be nice to just be in my hometown. It’s the simple things that I’m looking forward to; going to my favourite cafe, a quick drive by my favourite vegan bakery, go have pizza for dinner (that’s not that unusual), seeing some friends and laughing over a few beers and to be able to hug them all.

25. Community is king.

    • Growing up Gary Vee was my first introduction to someone that was business-driven and he touched a lot on social media and what was needed to ‘make it’. The thing I took away from my GV era was ‘Content is King’. He’d always go back to that. To me, I reflected this back to ‘Community is King’. To make it you need a good community, a spice rack full of good ones, and I’m so grateful for mine.

24. Smile more at strangers.

    • We can all remember the friendliest cashier with the biggest smile, despite how shit your day may be going. It’s an interaction you remember. Be your friendliest cashier always.

23. Do more scary things and welcome the unknown.

    • A cliche one but a goodie. Simply put - book that ticket. Go on that date. Ask the question. Join a new run club. Everyone’s scary is different.

22. Date yourself.

    • I’ve spent my fair share of time alone. In a big city or out bush - but just because you're alone doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take yourself out for dinner. “Table for 1, please”

21. Eat new things on the menu.

    • Our tastebuds do change. I was one to knock that idea until I started travelling and then I was forced to try new foods. Now I’m more open than ever to playing around with what’s on my plate.

20. Set more time aside to reflect more.

    • Do more thinking. Do more thinking about yourself and where you’ve been and what you’ve accomplished. Life can move fast, a little too fast if we aren’t careful, so I try and make a conscious effort when I’m out on the bike or trail running solo to use that time to smile at all the things and people I’ve been lucky enough to meet.

19. Don’t sell yourself short.

    • Follows on from No. 20 but don’t sell yourself short. You no doubt have done some incredible things and I bet and know you can do bigger and more challenging things than you ever have before.

18. Tell your friends you love them. Make it weird.

17. It’s okay to say no and, yes, even if it does disappoint another person.

    • Im big on a ‘no list’. Before coming home from a trip I’ll build a list of things I don’t want to do or people I don’t want to see when I get home. It’s one less decision we need to make because you’ve already done the work.

16. It’s normal and totally okay to be in the ‘what the fuck am I doing’ stage.

    • No one knows what they’re doing in their 20s. Have fun with it.

15. If someone inspires you, tell them.

14. Play around with different passions, even if it’s short-term.

    • An example I like to think of is when I started cycling. I spent days looking at bikes. Googling reviews. Watching youtube videos. Looked at a few on Gumtree before I made the call and purchased one. After that, I went and brought all the fancy clothes and clip-in shoes. I was all in on that new passion.

13. Call home more.

    • Take advantage of the technology we are so lucky to have. Use it.

12. Don’t be so harsh on yourself and just fuck around more.

    • Spend the day walking aimlessly around the city with an old or new friend. Drink a little too much coffee. Eat the overpriced croissants. Not every day (in my opinion) has to be so structured. Have fun with it.

11. Buy your friends flowers.

10. Your comfort zone is a good place to visit, but not live.

    • Try new things. Love new people. Go to new places. Play with new ideas. Growth doesn’t come from sitting in comfort.

9. Ask for help and get a coach on board.

   • Do not be afraid to ask for help. In business or your personal life. There are people out there that are where you want to be so ask the questions that will help you get to where you want to be going.

8. Use your favourite bowls and plates every night.

   • What are you saving them for?

7. Do more family-style dinners with friends.

   • Picture this; Big bowls and plates of food in the middle, everyone reaching in and serving themselves. 3 different conversations going on. That’s the magic.

6. Hold hugs for a little longer.

   • Nothing too long, but enough to settle in.

5. Nothing is real on social media so don’t compare yourself to what you see.

4. Look up more.

   • Look at the clouds dance. Watch the sunset work its magic as it hides away for another night.

3. Ask yourself what success means to you.

   • We all have different viewpoints on the word success. So sit and ask yourself what your version of success looks like. To some, it’s financial, to others it’s just the freedom to move and run freely.

2. We learn from listening, not from talking.

   • Don’t be afraid to be the weakest or dumbest in the room. For so long I was hesitant on sitting in on conversations due to that other person seeming to be smarter or more intelligent than I. Until you drop the ego and just enter the conversations with both ears, you’ll start to learn so much more.

1. Go alone, and be proud of it

   • Number 1 for me is the magical stuff. I love community. But just as much as I love community I love my solidarity time. I didn’t always feel this way, it was something I worked on and eventually got to the point of being comfortable in my own space. From flying solo to another country to going to a gig alone. If you want to go or do something, don’t wait for anyone.

Let me know if any of these lessons or thoughts spoke to you! Better yet, tell me some lessons or some thoughts that have been on your mind this last week or year.

Happy Sunday lovers and have a good week ahead,

Jono

A few favourite memories from my last 12 months.