I turned 38 on Monday, and while I still haven’t figured out how to fold a fitted sheet or how to get the last of the ketchup to come out of the bottle without theatrics, I’ve learned a few things along the way. Some lessons came through joy and tenderness, others through bumps and scrapes, and a few through burnt sourdough loaves.

So, in the spirit of celebrating another trip around the sun (and maybe because writing lists feels therapeutic in my 30s), here are 38 little lessons I’ve picked up — the funny, the heartfelt, and the ones I’m still learning.

38 Lessons for 38 Years

1. Making sourdough bread is worth the extra time (and the mess).

2. When you give a hug — hug tight and squeeze hard. They feel that.

3. Take the extra time to drop off the card or make the phone call. It'll matter more than you think.

4. Forgiveness frees the forgiver more than the forgiven.

5. Doggie snuggles are basically free therapy.

6. The seasons are a metaphor for life — constant change, quiet growth, and beauty in every stage.

7. Food grown in your own garden just tastes better.

8. Trust is the bedrock of every meaningful relationship.

9. Playfulness as an adult should be a high priority — silliness is sacred.

10. There’s a real freedom in self-forgetfulness.

11. Death becomes less scary the more I experience God.

12. Going outside is the best “reset” button on a hard day.

13. It’s ok to sit for a moment with the smell of freshly opened tennis balls before dumping them from the can. 

14. You’re allowed to say “no” without giving an “approved” reason.

15. We’re constantly fed the lie, “you need this.” I probably don’t.

16. Cholula hot sauce is the best hot sauce on the shelf. 

17. Marriage gets sweeter with time when sacrifice, humor, and humility are mutually prioritized. 

18. Dreams matter, but they aren’t ultimates.

19. Reading to your child is time well spent.

20. The “unproductive” days usually end up being the ones that matter most because they somehow nurture relationships more.

21. Human connection is the real secret to longevity.

22. Quality arch support matters when buying shoes. 

23. A weekly pause — a Sabbath rest — is a gift, not a guilt trip.

24. Our need for sleep and food is a reminder of our humanity and frailty.

25. Don’t judge the beggar on the street; given the same set of circumstances, that could have been me.

26. Hurt people hurt people — but likewise love awakens love.

27. Minimalism buys you back time.

28. Saving for retirement matters — but so does enjoying the present.

29. It really is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

30. Hospitality is more about the posture of your heart than the perfection of your home.

31. Friendship has to be fed — and it has to be mutual to grow.

32. Humility is crucial for effective leadership.

33. I hope my tombstone can honestly read: “She smiled at God who was smiling at her.”

34. Drinking coffee from a cute mug just tastes better.

35. Your underwear should be comfortable. If they’re not, buy new ones. Life’s too short.

36. The sitcom, King of Queens, is good medicine when life feels heavy.

37. People open up more deeply when sitting around a wood-burning fire.

38. Tell the person the compliment you’re thinking; both the family member and the stranger. Why keep it in?

So there it is — 38 lessons from 38 years. Some learned the hard way, some the beautiful way, and forever growing in each of them. Life isn’t about mastering every lesson; it’s about paying attention — to slowing down and realizing how short our time here really is. To realize how we will fade like dust from this earth sooner rather than later. To keep the main thing the main thing while we are here, fighting to keep perspective, and remaining lighthearted along the way, because -- is it really that big of a deal in light of the big picture?

Here’s to another year of knowing God more deeply, learning, laughing, and hopefully finding joy in both the sourdough that rises — and the loaves that don’t.