28 Things I Have Learned In 28 Years

Before I begin I want to give a special shout out to all my dear friends and family. You know who you are. Without your fierce love and support I would not have felt strong enough to chase my dreams this year. From the bottom of my heart and with tears in my eyes… thank you. Please enjoy the 28 Things I Have Learned in 28 Years.

Disclosure: These are in no particular order of importance or impact.

1. Family matters. You show up for family.

I was born at in this century in the state of Kansas to be a member of my family for a reason. My family is loud and messy and crazy and beautiful and I thank God every day I get to be a part of it. All of it. I can’t imagine being born at any other time to live life with any other group of people. As a teenager I took for granted how special it is to be surrounded by a the fierce force of love that is family. I have learned not to take it for granted.

2. “There are two things you can’t control. How tall you are, and how darn good lookin’ you are. The Anderson family is cursed with both.” – Brian Anderson

If there is one thing I have learned is impossible to control, avoid, or ignore it is my height. At a mere six feet I am one of the shortest people in my large Swedish family, and I would not have it any other way. (In case you were wondering, no, I do not play volleyball. Actually suck at it.)

I used to consider my height as a hindrance, but I now consider it a gift. Who else could help you get that jar on the top shelf of the grocery store? I can also see over anyone in a crowd. Very convenient!

3. Wear actual, real grown-up pajamas.

It has revolutionized my sleep, you guys. If you don’t own a real pair of soft and snuggly pajamas, stop right now and go buy yourself some. Treat Yourself before 2020! I read somewhere that when you wear your workout clothes or tight clothing to bed your brain cannot fully rest. The brain associates workout clothes with, well, work. A few months I put this theory to the test, and sure enough I sleep so much better now that I no longer wear fitness clothing to bed. Real pajamas. It’s a thing.

4. “Which wolf will you choose to feed?” – Mom

In high school my mother told me a story about two wolves that live inside us, one is evil and one is good. I was being bullied at the time, and struggling to take the high road all the time. She encouraged me to feed the good wolf, and I’ve never forgotten that moment in the car. Choosing the good wolf is not always easy, but I have learned it is always the right decision.

5. Appreciate art and the passion of others.

Art and creativity flow in my veins. My family is filled with painters, carpenters, musicians and writers. I am beyond grateful to have been raised with a deep appreciation for the arts. It does the heart and the brain good to see a play, read a new book, listen to different music, walk through a gallery, or even sit through a lecture.

There are so many different types of art, and within each category you can find people who absolutely love what they do. Seeing that passion is what I love most. For example, I have recently been listening to podcasts about travel and food photography as well as watching interviews with directors or Actors on Actors. Their passion for their craft is inspiring.

6. “God never gives you a mountain you can’t climb.” – Dad

Whenever I am having a bad day, my dad always reminds me that God never gives you a mountain you can’t climb. It reminds me of one of my favorite verses in 1 Corinthians, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (10:13).” So true.

7. Don’t take the backpack.

I’m a people-pleaser, a helper, a 2 on the Enneagram. When people are suffering, I feel their pain. I want to help, no matter what that takes. But sometimes God gives mountains to the people we love most in order to help them grow. If we are constantly removing their backpack, God is just going to give them a new one.

My dear friend Bev was kind enough to point out my backpack-snatching tendencies in college, and I am so grateful she did. I’ve learned to be more careful about who I am helping, how, and why. Not only for my sake, but for theirs.

8. A good picture is taken from a higher angle

There’s really no explanation required. It’s just a fact. If you are looking to take a selfie or a group photo and aren’t loving the way you look that particular day, taking the photo from a higher angle will do wonders. Promise.

9. Celebrate where you come from.

I grew up in Lindsborg, KS… Little Sweden, USA. Seriously, that was the town nickname. Every year we all go to main street and do traditional Swedish dances in traditional garb. We gorge ourselves on Swedish food and we celebrate our heritage with music and art and so many stories. My hometown celebrates things like Våffeldagen (National Swedish Waffle Day) and St. Lucia Day. Needless to say, we are very Swedish.

When I was a little girl, I honestly thought having to dance swedishly was weird and embarrassing, but the older I get the more I have learned to be proud of my history. I love where I come from, and I’m excited to continue learning about Scandinavian tradition for years to come.

10. “Go with God.” – Grandma Pat

My grandma used to say this to me when I hugged her goodbye. It’s one of my absolute favorite memories. She wanted my last thought as we parted to be about God. His was the last name on her lips. I want that kind of faith to be my own legacy.

11. Speak up.

I don’t know if it’s my Scandinavian DNA, my Lutheran upbringing or my people-pleasing tendencies, but I have the hardest time standing up for myself. I have learned that if someone is treating me with disrespect, I need to speak up. If I feel uncomfortable, threatened, taken advantage of, bullied, or abused… I have learned I need to speak up.

And I encourage you to do the same. You are not an inconvenience, your feelings are completely valid, and I promise there is someone going through the same thing. So speak up.

12. “Chelsea, if I teach you anything let it be this: Stop the flow. Sneeze. Then go. That and wear chap stick. Remember those things.” – Mom

To this day my mother still considers this one of her most valuable pieces of advice. Do not sneeze while you are peeing. It’s just not a good idea. Also, wear chap stick because no one likes chapped lips. Words to live by. #momwisdom

13. If it’s not on your calendar, it doesn’t exist. – Patrick Habiger

The best realtor, my old boss, and someone I am proud to call a friend once told me “If it is not on your calendar, it doesn’t exist.” How true. Memory is not my strongest suit, so having a well organized calendar and to-do list is key for me. However, I have also found that intentionally adding time with friends and family to my calendar is also important.

Being responsible and considerate enough to schedule time with your friends and family is actually a way to love them well. I never thought of it that way, but I have learned that managing your time is also honoring the people you love.

14. Be Still and Know that I am God. – Proverbs 46:10

This scripture is my life theme. I find it reappearing in various stages and seasons of my young life, and in the most unexpected ways. Racing to the finish line of my day used to be the goal. Now, it is being still; being still with Jesus.

15. Never refuse the offer of a mint. – Colton

If someone is offering you a mint, gum, etc… you might have stinky breath. Better safe than sorry!

16. Enjoy the little things. – Reid

My three year old nephew Reid is notorious for doing everything the slow way. He meanders through life with this inquisitive look on his little face, furrowed brow and a crooked mouth… gosh I love that kid. Reid has taught me to enjoy the smallest details in life. Stop and stare at a mushroom or a lizard in the rocks. I mean, why not?

17. Everything tastes better with a baby spoon. – Mom

Try it. You will not regret it. Yogurt with a baby spoon? Excellent. Ice cream? YES.

18. It’s okay to take time to rest. – Colton

I married a procrastinator, a lover of rest and relaxation and food and absolutely no concept of time. I love the man to death, and knowing Colton has taught me that it is okay to take time to rest. Still can’t say I have learned to like napping, though.

19. Being healthy is more important than being skinny.

Since a very young age I have dealt with body dysphoria, anorexia, addictions to both calorie counting and exercise. I’ve been underweight and overweight. I’ve tried countless diets and trends, and the one thing these issues have taught me is that being healthy is more important than being skinny. Truth be told, I am still learning in this area. I’m proud of the progress I have made and I have learned that no outside opinion could ever take that maturity away from me.

20. Never allow anyone to keep you from living your faith. – Pastor Amy

Pastor Amy was the preacher at my grandmother’s funeral. I was supposed to read a passage of scripture at the service, but was hesitant as the scripture in question was in fact very fire and brimstone. I confessed to her I was worried that people in the church would believe me to be shoving my faith in their face. She grabbed me by the shoulders and told me to never allow anyone to keep me from loving Jesus. I have never forgotten that moment of abrupt assurance.

21. God always provides.

It is still a shock to me that Colton and I were able to have such a beautiful and flawless wedding. We could hardly afford the venue, but somehow the entire event came into place in a way that can only be explained by God. Since that day and many days before, I have seen God step in and provide for me when I need it most.

He provides financially, sure, but I have also seen His loving hand in a much needed call from a friend or a song on the radio. The older I get, the more clearly I see the presence of God in every thing I do.

22. It matters not who you were born, but who you grow to be… – Dumbledore, Harry Potter

Thank goodness for this, because y’all I was a mess in high school. I was a drama-infused self-absorbed crazy person making a series of decisions based solely on emotion. That’s the honest truth. I’ve clawed myself out of plenty of pits I dug myself in my 28 years, and if we were sitting across from each other drinking tea right now I would tell you all about it.

I don’t have enough character space for that here, but the point is I am so beyond glad that it does not matter who we were in the past. I do not recognize the girl I was ten years ago, and I am sure in another ten years I won’t recognize who I am now. That’s the beauty of sanctification, am I right? Thank goodness for Jesus.

23. Everyone is to treat everyone as a child of God. No one has any right to treat someone as if they do not matter. – LOGOS

My family attended LOGOS every Wednesday when I was a child. LOGOS is a family-centric Lutheran church program. Before eating dinner on Wednesday evenings, we would recite the golden rule. I still recite it to this day. Everyone matters.

24. A fresh egg yolk will cling to the egg white.

This isn’t a metaphor. Genuinely, the quality of your eggs and butter can change the outcome of a bake. Spend the extra money on farm fresh eggs and good butter. It will revolutionize your recipes.

25. Everyone learns and communicates differently.

Working with children on the autism spectrum when I was in college taught me that everyone learns differently. Not wrong, just different. No child or person is the same and sometimes it takes a different approach to get your point across.

There is a lack of empathy and understanding in society today. It’s easy to leap to conclusions about the people around us, but we don’t know their backstory, their current health or financial status, their stress level. Be patient. Be kind.

26. Presence over Perfection. – Shauna Niequist

Book of the year in my opinion. I am obsessed with Present Over Perfect, and I cannot tell you what it has done to help me these last 18 or so months. If you are looking for a good read, this is it.

It has been 28 years and I can say I am done racing through my life for the sake of the race. I’m done living to please others rather than pleasing God. I refuse to miss the point.

27. Keep a Hygee Home Filled with the Holy Spirit

Home is meant to be a sanctuary of peace, security and love. It’s a place for family and deep conversation, trust and unity. Hygee is a Danish word that encompasses a feeling of coziness, contentment and well-being by enjoying the simple things in life. That’s what I want my home to be. And not just for me, but for every single person that enters my house. I want the presence of Jesus to saturate every room, so that no matter who walks through the front door they feel welcome… they feel loved.

The last few months I have been decorating and arranging my house with intention. The items and decorations inside it have purpose and meaning. Keeping a clean and organized home also helps me keep my mind clear and focused. I’ve learned I cannot feel truly at peace with a sink full of dishes, a mountain of laundry, etc.

28. Jesus is better. – Me

He just is. Jesus is better than anything else. Often I wish I could project my heart or mind to the people around me so that they could truly comprehend the majesty of God and how much better He is, but that is sadly not possible. No matter what, I can promise you Jesus is better.

Thank you for taking the time to read the 28 Things I Learned in 28 Years. Be sure to subscribe for updates on new content, and check out other posts such as:

7 Best Bible Studies for Young Women
6 Books You Should Definitely Re-Read in 2020
Nature and The Bible: Learning About God Through His Creation
When You are Deeply Tired on the Inside

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Love Always,