What I learnt in my twenties

It’s November second 2015, I turned 31 yesterday. I had a great birthday, thanks to Liverpool FC and All Blacks victories, followed by a challenging day out with Maria doing a high ropes course down south at Arthur’s Seat, VIC.  

 I’ve written a lot about Netball lately, and whilst I enjoy that type of writing (See: Seacliff Allstars), it kind of alienates some of  my readership as they wonder who on earth is Jess Larritt and is she actually the Queen of Richmond? 

Writing for publication (no matter how small the readership) is a tricky thing because creatively, I have a lot of ideas.  I think of two or three on any given day, but then I go through a checklist in my head; “Will this hurt my reputation at work?” “Will this be too obviously about a certain individual or group of individuals?” “Will this be straight out hypocritical?”. My recent blog about integrity was treading the fine line, I received a lot of feedback on the post, including some individuals certain I was specifically targeting them. That’s the challenge of writing about the real world. You’re never going to please everyone. 

What I thought I would do today, despite the potential for hypocrisy, is write down 9 things I learnt by the time I was 31. Things I wish I knew in my 20’s. You know, the same way Buzzfeed does, apart from with less polish and political correctness.

Here we go

1. Pay your debts – despite how obvious this seems, ignoring bills because you had a big weekend isn’t a good career move. Having bad credit is something you should leave to the bogans and the battlers. 
2. Life isn’t a race with others– I’ve spoken about this moment of clarity a number of times, sitting on a beach in the Bay of Islands with some friends, I was busy complaining that I wasn’t an investment banker making 6 figures. A buddy said to me “stop fucking worrying about what everyone else is doing”. That’s really stuck with me. Things are so much better when you’re focusing on being the best you can be rather than going after someone else’s Nirvana.  
3. Don’t buy an expensive car ever (or at least till you’re mega rich) – “car guys” have always blown my mind. Cars are for getting you from A to B. That’s all. Rinsing 60 thousand dollars when you’re 21 has got to be one of the stupidest things you’ll do in your life.  Grab yourself a Toyota Corolla and get back to me about your happiness quotient. I guarantee it’s just the same and you have $55k to do with whatever you want. 
4. Experience over possession – I think this is a Gen Y behavior anyway, but to focus on material things in your 20’s is crazy. Do as much travel and have as many adventures as you can within your means. Your body is only that good once in your life and doesn’t get any better when you get older. 
5. Don’t live in Neverland too long – Seems contradictory to #4 but its complimentary too it. As someone who worked at American Summer Camps 5 summers, I was on the fringe of being in Neverland too long.  I’ve known plenty of people that ran with the lost boys for too long and have struggled to make it out.  
6. Cut the sacks of shit – As hard as it is to do, it’s critical to cut off the battlers, they only drag you down. There is a theory that I subscribe too, you’re the sum of the 5 closest people to you. If you don’t like what you’re seeing, then make some changes because you’re likely on your way to being one of them. 
7. Sports celebrate man’s success, the news celebrates man’s failures – play sport, watch sport, cheer on sport. The power of sports are so immense I can’t even describe.
8. Quite a bit of stuff doesn’t actually matter in the scheme of things – When it seems like the end of the world, it’s really not. The sun will rise tomorrow. Get up and get on with things.
9. Look after number #1 – Put yourself first, because if you don’t no one else will.  

Thoughts welcomed?