What I’ve learned before turning 33-years-young. It was my birthday yesterday and here is some simple things I’ve learned along my 33-years-of-living.
- I’m never too old to to learn new things / start studying new subjects.
- I’m never too old to be a kid at heart.
- There’s no generally approved “life plan” that I need to carry out.
- I don’t need to get married or have kids if it’s not really for me.
- I don’t need to shave my legs.
- I can cut off my hair and feel more beautiful than ever.
- I need to take care of my health / temple / body and my mind to feel good. It’s important to feel good.
- I shouldn’t sit on a computer all day (see the previous point).
- Don’t need to be always right and I can change my mind.
- I often rather stay at home, drink a glass of good red wine and draw – than go to a party.
Birthday card from my boyfriend // What I’ve learned //Elli Maanpää Blog 2018
- I still can go to a party at times and dance until dawn if I feel like it.
- I can take care of a cat and love having my own cat-baby.
- I’m still not into politics or spectator sports and it’s completely ok.
- Not everyone are into arts.
- Not everyone are into cats.
- It’s ok to fail.
- It’s ok to succeed and show it.
- I can question but not criticise the choices my parents make. It’s their life.
- I can do things differently than my parents. I can do things differently than anyone else.
- It’s cool to be nerd. It’s cool to be nice. It’s cool to be little goofy.
- It’s ok If I like to eat oatmeal with chickpeas.
Birthday card from my goddaughter // What I’ve learned //Elli Maanpää Blog 2018
- I can stay in Finland for rest of my life since it’s a good country to live in.
- I can also move abroad if new possibilities arise. And then move back again.
- There’s millions of way of expressing “I love you” without saying the actual words. But saying them out loud never hurts either.
- It’s ok to be vocal about the things I’m good at. If I don’t value my skills and traits, why would others. I owe it to myself.
- If there are traits in my personality that I spite, I can work on them and become a better person by choice.
- I can (actually) make a (good) income trough creative career.
- Self-love is only way to be tolerable person.
- It’s ok to ask help.
- My friends and family are brilliant and important and I must remember to appreciate them.
- I don’t need to hurry.
- Dreams do come true.
- I’m so damn lucky.
Happy 33rd year to myself! It’s going to be a good one since three is my lucky number. Happy Birthday to all Leos out there!

What I’ve learned // Elli Maanpää Blog 2018