I didn’t feel ahead in my 20s.
I felt uncertain, behind my peers, and very aware of how much I lacked. I didn’t know it then, but a few small decisions I made early were already doing the heavy lifting. Not in any obvious way, but in how they shaped my thinking, my discipline, and my sense of direction.
It reminded me of the “One-Degree Rule” – a principle about the tiny, consistent shift (like moving your compass 1 degree) would create a massive difference in the final destination, or outcome.
This is the first lesson in a series I call Lessons I Learned Early. Not advice from hindsight alone, but patterns I can now see clearly looking back. Let’s get into it.
1. I GOT CLEAR ON WHAT I WANTED
There was a moment when I realized that wanting a certain life meant understanding what it costs. Not just financially, but emotionally and professionally.
I did the math on the life I dreamed of. Where I wanted to live. How I wanted to travel. The kind of flexibility I wanted in my work. It was a rude awakening, but also an empowering one.
Clarity forced me to be honest. About income. About growth. About the decisions I needed to make earlier rather than later. From that point on, I stopped drifting and started choosing.
That shift changed everything.
2. I Started Documenting My Life
I began documenting my life through photos and journals without much intention. I just felt pulled to capture moments. What I didn’t realize was how quickly memory fades.
Now, I can look back at different versions of myself and see growth in real time. The confidence I didn’t know I was building. The resilience I didn’t know I had. The evolution that only makes sense in hindsight.
This habit shaped how I think about storytelling and personal brand today. Documenting your life isn’t about performance. It’s about preservation. You are creating a record of who you are becoming.
I’m deeply sentimental, and this practice continues to ground me.
3. I Started taking care of my body
I was 23 when I started lifting weights, and I will always wish I started sooner. Not because of how it changed my body, but because of how it changed my relationship with myself.
Strength training taught me patience, consistency, and respect for my energy. It became a reminder that progress compounds when you show up regularly, even when motivation is low.
The lesson I carry forward is simple. It is never too late to start taking care of yourself. The benefits extend far beyond the physical.
THE TAKEAWAY
These weren’t grand moves. They were quiet decisions made before I had certainty or confidence. While I didn't realize the impact they would make back then, I see it so clearly now and it's a pattern I can't unsee.
These 3 simple, imperfect things changed my life:
Clarity over distraction (it's so, very hard). Documentation over forgetting. Consistency over intensity.
This is lesson #1. More to come.
xo, Maria
