6 Life Lessons I’ve Learned by 36: Finding Beauty in the Little Things

And just like that, I’m 36 years old. I remember in my teenage years thinking that being this old meant being a proper adult. What a proper adult is, I still haven’t figured out, but that said, I must admit - I love being an adult. I truly enjoy adulting. It’s amazing to shape your life the way you want, even if it comes at the cost of paying bills and doing house chores.

I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs in the “adult” part of life, and I know I’m not special for it. Life is never a straight line for anyone. We all experience happiness, success, and excitement, but also sadness, disappointment, and heartbreak.

In this post, I want to share six life lessons I’ve learned for my 36th birthday (36 lessons would be excessive, haha!). I’m steadily ploughing through life, trying not to let the days slip through my fingers, and here are some bits of wisdom I’ve collected along the way. I might be getting older, but at least I’m getting wiser, lol!

1. No, love doesn’t hurt.

Ah, this knowledge would have blown young Adriana’s mind. Grown-up, healthy love is sweet, kind, fun, understanding, and passionate (in the right moments;). Heartbreak, disappointment, unanswered questions, and arguing like it’s an Olympic sport are *not* healthy parts of a relationship routine.

I see this idea so often in smutty books that have risen to popularity recently - a man who is basically a walking and talking red flag but *apparently* has the heroine’s best interests at heart. He just struggles to show it. Pfff, yeah, sure! That might make for an interesting fantasy book, but in real life? Men have this incredible ability to show their feelings through actions. If he’s rude, uninterested, obnoxious etc., run for the hills, girl - it’s not going to get better.

2. Consistency is key.

I’m sure you’ve heard, “slow and steady wins the race.” So did I, but I never applied it until I met Andrei, who is the most consistent person I know. He’s shown me through his actions that sticking with things long-term really works.

Looking back at six years of our business and personal life, I can see how consistency beats luck and talent. I often hear lovely compliments about how good I am at marketing or how talented of videographer I am. But honestly? I don’t think I’m naturally good at either. I’ve just been doing it long enough to gain some experience and confidence.

YR Studio has changed over the years. I’ve tried different things and approaches to business, but one thing I *always* did was show up. In six years of running this business, there are no noticeable gaps in my social media activity or random shop closures, and I’m proud of that.

3. Our mind is amazing - but also mischievous.

…And it will give you every reason and excuse not to stick to your goals and plans. I’ve started noticing how good my brain is at making excuses to skip running. I only do it twice a week, and it’s very casual - the goal is simply to keep moving. Yet my own mind can come up with the most reasonable and convincing excuses for why I shouldn’t bother today.

I think mastering the art of recognising when we’re gaslighting ourselves is literally a life-changing skill.

4. You’ll be judged no matter what.

I see myself as pretty mild and not controversial, yet even I get my share of not-so-fun comments. I never engage and simply move on, but I’ve learnt that no matter what you do, people will judge. Whether you’re on the internet like me, working in a busy office, or dealing with a large family, there will *always* be someone who doesn’t approve of your choices.

My six years on social media have taught me that the best solution is to accept this without overthinking. Not being liked by everyone is actually a good thing - it means you actually have got some personality:)

5. The perfect balance doesn’t exist, but striving for it is key.

The word “balance” is so overused these days it’s almost a cliché, but I still think it’s the key to a happy life. We all veer off track at times—whether it’s doing too much too fast or avoiding something entirely.

I don’t believe perfect balance even exists, but trying to stay somewhere in the middle helps us get things done without burning out. Take running again for example. If I tried to run every day, I’d quickly burn out. On the other hand, it would be easy to convince myself to stop running altogether—after all, I’m not  sporty girl, and my sofa is *very* inviting.. Running twice a week is my sweet spot - I feel good, stay motivated, and keep going.

6. It doesn’t have to be big to be good:)

Life, I mean life! That doesn’t mean I don't have ambition or long-term plans, but I simply manage my expectations and stay realistic. Too many people feel like they are losing in life because they compare their lives to what they see on the internet. First, you never really know how someone is doing just based on their Instagram page. For all I know, their credit cards might be maxed out, and they could be neck-deep in loans.

As a small business owner, Instagram assumes I’m interested in posts about earning six figures or achieving passive income. The whole “girl boss” thing honestly makes me cringe. No, thank you! I’ll take my small business—editing videos, packing orders, and doing honest work that supports a simple life. There’s nothing wrong with that, in fact, I think it’s a much happier and more fulfilling way to live than chasing heights that are never enough.

A few closing words

As I look back on the last six years of YR Studio, I feel grateful for all the ups and downs that have brought me here. Life isn’t perfect, but it’s mine, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Learning to appreciate the small things and see beauty in the ordinary was truly life-changing for me because I understood that it’s the little joys that make the journey so beautiful.

Thank you for reading
Adriana x