42 Things I’ve Learned by 42

by Samantha Krause

Somewhere between lattes, laundry, deadlines, and dreams, I’ve collected a few lessons. Not the polished kind you read in self-help books, but the messy, coffee-stained truths that come from actually living. Here are 42 things I’ve learned in my 42 years on this spinning planet:

Life & Perspective

1. Your 20s are for learning, your 30s are for unlearning, and your 40s are for actually living.

2. Nobody has it “all figured out.” The secret is: we’re all winging it.

3. Gratitude doesn’t solve problems, but it softens them.

4. Sometimes joy is just noticing the way sunlight hits your kitchen counter.

5. Life isn’t short. It’s long. Don’t rush through it.

Self & Growth

6. Therapy is not weakness—it’s maintenance.

7. You can reinvent yourself at any age.

8. Failure is usually a detour, not a dead end.

9. You’re allowed to outgrow people, jobs, and even old versions of yourself.

10. The voice in your head isn’t always right. Challenge it.

Relationships

11. Friendships in your 40s are about quality, not quantity.

12. Family doesn’t always mean blood.

13. “No” is a full sentence, and it’s not rude.

14. Love is choosing someone even on the days when you don’t feel like it.

15. People show you who they are—believe them the first time.

Work & Purpose

16. Your job is not your identity.

17. Money buys freedom, not happiness.

18. Burnout is not a badge of honor.

19. Success feels different to everyone—define it for yourself.

20. Creative hobbies matter even if you’re “bad” at them.

Body & Health

21. Sleep is magic. Protect it.

22. Your body is not the enemy—it’s the reason you get to experience life.

23. Walks fix more than you think they will.

24. Drinking water really does help. Annoying, but true.

25. Wrinkles are proof you’ve smiled, worried, and lived.

Everyday Wisdom

26. The first sip of coffee can cure almost anything. Almost.

27. Buy the good candle. Light it on a random Tuesday.

28. Books are cheaper than therapy, but sometimes you need both.

29. Decluttering your closet feels like decluttering your brain.

30. Music can transport you back to entire eras of your life.

Resilience

31. Some storms are meant to wash you clean, not destroy you.

32. You don’t always need a five-year plan—sometimes you just need to survive the week.

33. Growth feels uncomfortable because you’re stretching.

34. Healing isn’t linear. Stop expecting it to be.

35. You’ve survived 100% of your worst days.

Joy & Fun

36. Dancing in your kitchen counts as exercise.

37. Ice cream tastes better when eaten straight out of the carton.

38. Laughter is medicine. Crying is too.

39. Road trips cure restlessness.

40. Life feels lighter when you don’t take yourself too seriously.

Final Two

41. Starting over is not failure.

42. The best years of your life aren’t behind you—they’re still unfolding.

💌 Thanks for reading. If even one of these resonated, then we’re in this messy, beautiful life together. Now go light the candle, pour the coffee, and remind yourself: you’re doing better than you think.