I just had to fill out a survey for “life milestones” that I have completed or anticipate completing in the past and upcoming year. Just a few questions included were : Did you buy a home? Are you pregnant? Did you have a baby? Are you planning a wedding? Do you plan or planning a wedding? Do you plan on getting pregnant? Are you going to be a bridesmaid in a wedding? Are you graduating with a new degree? If anyone knows my life, you are aware that the answer to every single one of those questions is a hard no. I’m sure there are many others who fall into the same boat as me. If we haven’t answered yes to any of those questions, have we really accomplished anything in our lives so far?
Some might say yes. But I don’t think that’s the case at all, soo ya girl did a little brainstorming. Check out this list of life milestones that adults should be celebrating.
Social Media does not always do the best job at building up our self esteems. With social media feeds with perfectly curated images with designer fashion, luxurious vacations, and every home renovation you’ve ever wanted (for the house you don’t own), constantly being scrolled through and double tapped it’s hard to not compare your reality to someone else’s. Comparing your life to someone else’s is inevitable but should be avoided at all costs. If you think you have nothing to celebrate in your life than keep reading.
Life Milestones That Should be Celebrated More
Starting a New Job
Any change in a career should be noted as a milestone. We spend most of our time working, at least I do! Our jobs and careers do define us to a degree because they take up a lot of our daily time. One of the first questions you ask someone when you meet them is, “What do you do?” Your career is a large part of your life, so why not celebrate a change? So if you got a new job this year or hell if you left your job and started your own company, You go Glen Coco! That’s a milestone if I’ve ever heard of one.
It takes guts to take a leap of faith and start something new. Whether it’s a job in a new industry, a total new career path, or a new business. Trust me, that does not go unnoticed. There’s multiple reasons why you might get a new job. You could out grow your current role or you could have gotten fired. Maybe you had a very toxic workplace and finally built up the courage to jump ship. Moral of the story – It’s a big decision, a big deal, and definitely a life milestone.
Leaving a Toxic Relationship
There’s always so much celebration about relationships moving to the next level or stage, but there doesn’t seem to be any for ending one. In today’s world there is a lot pressure to portray a perfect life and image and that includes relationships. Having a picture perfect engagement and wedding are things that some people dream of, even if it is with the wrong person and things are going south. We create false realities and say “it will get better.” Sometimes that works, but other times it doesn’t. If you are in a relationship that just isn’t working anymore, there is no harm is saying you tried, you did your best (Dane Cook voice #iykyk), and it’s time to move on.
Let’s start seeing endings as new beginnings. Leaving a toxic relationship is so much more of an accomplishment to be proud of than sticking around and forcing a future with someone that just isn’t meant to be. Realizing your worth and leaving a bad situation is 100% a life milestone.
Moving to a New City
Moving is typically tied with sadness, not always but hear me out. Leaving a place you’ve lived means leaving the life you’ve built, the friends you’ve made, and your home behind. It’s so tough. I’ve moved and seen friends move to different sides of the country, and it hurts every time. It’s sad to know that things aren’t going to be the same anymore and that life is going to change. Just because things are changing doesn’t mean it’s a bad change!
Whether it’s you moving or a friend moving, it is something to be celebrated. Change is a good thing and that needs to be celebrated more. Embrace that new city and the new life you are going to built! Look at everything that’s ahead, not what you are leaving behind. Life milestone approved.
Paying off Your Credit Cards in Full Every Month
You know what’s really cool? Finally being able to call yourself financially stable.
Starting out a career right out of college or after high school has the tough reality that you aren’t going to be making the amount of money that you want to be to support your lifestyle. That can lead to crippling debt month over month, and that’s a scary position to be in. What’s a really awesome accomplishment that you should be proud of? Finally being able to pay off a credit card balance in full and not carry over debt month to month. That’s a life milestone accomplishment. Can you also start putting money aside to invest into a 401k? You’ve made it to stability, you should be pumped.
Starting a Side Hustle
Starting a side hustle means you are hungry for more, and that’s a pretty awesome thing! That means you want more out of life than you are currently getting. Maybe it’s more money, a more fulfilling path, or a more flexible schedule so you can spend more time with your family. Your “why” could be a million different things and it doesn’t impact the fact that you started something new! That’s something to be celebrated.
It takes a whole lot of courage to start something new and takes even more to continue building something from scratch every single minute of every single day. The effort and dedication it takes to start a side hustle is no small feat. If you decided to start you own side hustle, kudos to you, you took the first step. Life milestone achieved!
Saying “No” to Someone or to Something
Learning to respect your time is a huge deal. I’m a big yes person, and I’m still working on this, but I am so incredibly proud and jealous of the people who have mastered this. When you say no to a person or an obligation, it is ok. You’re not letting anyone down. It’s a big deal to finally respect your time and realize that you cannot do everything, you may want to but you also don’t want to run yourself into the deep end. Saying “No” to someone or something is an accomplishment in itself.
Huge shout out to everyone who can say no to an event or plans, you reached a big old life milestone and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
See there’s a lot of things to be celebrated as life milestones!
What have you done that is a major life milestone? Let’s normalize celebrating the little things that are really big things!
The moral of the story here is to know that you are living an amazing and fulfilled life, even if you aren’t hitting the so-called life milestones that you’re supposed to be accomplishing at your age. There are so many things to be celebrated every single day.
Real Talk – do not compare your life to someone else’s 🙂
Teena Fey 
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