The last year of my 20s: Lessons so far

My twenties so far have been both exciting and overwhelming. From an international modeling career to finishing university, changing several roles and jobs in the corporate world, finding the love of my life and marrying him, to being the mother of Eva, the best kid on this planet; all while having amazing friends by my side through so many changes.

These are the good parts, indeed, but for every "up" there were also many "downs" that often go unmentioned. As I sit here reflecting, I realize how much I've packed into these years and how many different hats I've tried to wear simultaneously. From being a mom, wife, professional, and friend, to trying to take care of myself. There were moments when I believed I could balance it all. But as I approach the end of this decade, I can honestly say this journey has been filled with mistakes, lessons, and eye-opening realizations.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that everything comes with tradeoffs. The idea of "having it all" sounds nice in theory, but in reality, it’s impossible to give 100% to everything and expect to stay balanced. You have to choose your priorities; and for every choice, there's something you have to give up, whether it’s time, energy, or attention. Not fun, I know. It's been a process of trial and error, but I've come to discover so much more about myself along the way.

For instance, I’ve learned that you don’t always have to push yourself to the limit (in theory, though I haven’t fully put it into practice yet). Slowing down doesn’t mean you’re failing. In fact, sometimes it's the smartest move you can make. But I’ve struggled with this. I've always been surrounded by highly ambitious people, and for a long time, I thought I had to keep up with their pace. The challenge has been finding my own rhythm. It still is. I would get restless when things were too slow, but pushing too hard only led to burnout. It’s a delicate balance, learning when to speed up and when to take a breather. I wish someone had told me this sooner, so I could have been more mindful of the decisions I made.

Another big realization is that you’ll never have enough. This was a hard one to come to terms with, but it's true. We all know this to some extent, but prefer to ignore it. No matter what milestones you reach, there’s always something "better" around the corner; a better job, place to go, challenge...a better lifestyle. It’s like chasing a mirage. You might finally get that luxury handbag or land the dream job, but soon enough, you’ll want the next, shinier thing. I’ve learned that this endless pursuit doesn’t lead to happiness. It's just a game. What really matters is the quality of your interactions with yourself and those around you. Here you can feel the difference indeed. The peace that comes from within, the joy of simple moments with loved ones, these are the things that last.

It’s funny because what I’m saying isn’t something new at all. Don’t we all know this already? Then why does it feel like I’m having my own "Eat, Pray, Love" moment while writing this?

As it’s the last year of my twenties (not that it really makes a difference if I think about it), I’ve come to accept that I won’t have all the answers. Life is an ongoing experiment of trying, failing, and trying again. What I do know is that embracing the tradeoffs, slowing down when needed, and focusing on the things that truly matter have helped me grow into a version of myself I’m proud of.

Here’s to the lessons learned, the mistakes made, and the growth that continues.

Cheers to that! :)