20 Non-Negotiable Things You Need To Have In Your Life By 25

1. A supportive family member(s).

You will not always make the right decisions. There will be days when you will choose a bad option. There will be a part of your life when you will fail. There will be moments when you will want to give up. But having people in your life who will understand you and support you will make you feel a little less lonely, and a little less scared. Having people who will accept you despite your failures will be a great motivation for you to keep going, keep fighting, and keep pushing through.

2. A lot of patience.

We live in a generation where almost everything is instant. We don’t have to wait in line to order a fast-food meal. We don’t have to go to the library to research. We don’t have to travel a thousand miles just to see someone. And so we have convinced ourselves that we can also get everything that we want in such a short period of time.

But when things don’t go according to our plans, we become disappointed and grow impatient. Sometimes we forget that success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a lot of effort and time to achieve our dreams. It takes plenty of cuts, bruises, and scars to get to the place where we want to be.

3. A forgiving heart.

Some people will hurt you, abandon you, and promise you lies. Some people will take advantage of you, belittle you, and manipulate you. But you can’t live a life with a heart that is full of resentment. You can’t live a life with heavy baggage you drag along with you everywhere you go. You need to learn to forgive people. You need to move on from horrible experiences. You need to let go of the bad memories that only make you upset, sad, and hateful.

4. A best friend who’s always on the go.

You need a friend you can ask to come with you to the mall or visit the beach when you feel the need to take a break from life. You need a friend you can watch a TV marathon with on the weekends. You need a friend who’s only one call away when you want to have fun. You need a best friend who always reminds you that sometimes it’s okay to loosen up and be crazy. You need a best friend who makes you laugh like no other.

5. Acceptance of your flaws and imperfections.

It’s okay if you’re not the prettiest, the smartest, the most talented, the wealthiest, or the most famous. It’s literally okay not to have it all. There’s always an opportunity to change, to improve, to grow, to be better. There’s always a way to overcome your fears, insecurities, and shortcomings. Once you have accepted your flaws and imperfections, that’s when you start to bloom and flourish.

6. An unbiased mentor.

Sometimes you need a person who’s going to point out your mistakes. A person who’s going to give you constructive criticism for the purpose of your growth. It’s good to hear nice words, nice comments, and nice feedback from people once in a while. But sometimes you also need to receive an honest and unfiltered advice from the people who only want the best for you.

7. A long-term career plan.

You are not getting younger. Life isn’t all about fun and games. You need to sit down and ponder about your career. You need to start making plans about your goals. It can make you feel anxious and a little bit stressed, but it’s better to be prepared and be ready for your future.

8. A back up plan for disaster.

There are so many things that you can’t control. There are so many detours, road blocks, and stop-overs that you’re going to encounter as you journey along. There are so many situations that can go wrong. It’s nice to have a Plan B in place when your Plan A doesn’t work out. It’s nice to condition yourself for how to handle a crisis when disaster attacks.

9. A great pair of shoes.

You are going to be outside a lot. It’s good to invest in a long-lasting pair of shoes that you can always rely on everywhere you go. It’s good to own something that’s going to help you walk with confidence.

10. A comfortable bed.

If you’re not outside, then you’re probably at home. A comfortable bed is one of the most important non-negotiable things that you need to have in your life by 25. Because there will be weekends when you just want to stay under the cover of your sheets to read a book, to watch a movie, or to simply just rest. There will be weeknights when all you want to do is crash on your bed and sleep. So it’s highly recommended to own good mattress, good pillows, and good blankets.

11. A reliable camera.

You know what they say, “If you didn’t capture it, then it didn’t happen.” A camera is something that helps you re-visit the beautiful places that you have seen, delicious food that you have tasted, and incredible people that you have spent your time with.
Photographs are good remembrance of our past. Photographs make us remember how we felt at a certain place, and at a certain time.

12. An emergency fund.

Setting aside an emergency money can lessen your anxiety for the future that is unknown. Whatever happens to you, at least you’re a little bit sure that you have extra money that can cover up any unexpected expenses that might surprise you in the future.

13. A music playlist for any type of day.

It’s no secret that music changes our moods. Music keeps us upbeat on the days that we feel low. Music helps us concentrate when we’re faced with difficult tasks to finish. Music accompanies us when we have no one by our side. Having a list of music you can listen into anytime you want can make your days better.

14. A ton of painful memories.

Your heartbreaking moments in life allow you to become a stronger, wiser, bolder, and fiercer human being. Your failures fuel your drive to attain success. Your painful memories serve as lessons that you have learned over the years. They become part of who you are. They become a proof that you have survived anything life has thrown at you.

15. A ton of good memories.

Good memories are reminders of why you are still here, why you want to live today, why you are excited for the future. Good memories inspire you to always look on the brighter side of life. Good memories make you smile, positive, hopeful, and wishful. Good memories allow you to keep chasing bigger and better things.

16. Someone you can trust with all you heart.

You need someone you can talk to about everything under the sun. Someone you can confide your saddest, darkest, most tragic part of your life. Someone who will not walk away from you once they have found out the monsters that live inside of you. You need a person you can look in the eyes and immediately feel safe and comfortable.

17. A travel itinerary.

You need to unwind once in a while. You need to leave your city or town and be somewhere unfamiliar. You need to grow outside your comfort zone. Traveling helps you to get to know yourself more, and allows you to discover a side of you that you didn’t know before. Traveling changes your pre-conceived notion about the world. Traveling makes you realize that there are more good people than bad.

18. A creative hobby.

Life gets boring if you keep doing the same thing every single day. It’s nice to do something out of the norm even if it scares you, even if you don’t get approval from people, even if it’s not going to directly benefit you in life. A creative hobby helps you to express yourself, and to let go of the emotions that you need to set free.

19. A willingness to listen.

One of the best feelings in the world is being a good friend to someone. It feels great to help someone who’s in need. It feels great to be the person someone runs into when they’re lost and confused. People always remember the ones who listen to them and take care of them during the times that they can’t handle themselves.

20. A determined spirit and passion to keep living.

You still have so many experiences to encounter. You still have so many people to meet, to fall in love, to lose, to let go, to inspire, to change, to keep. You still have so many things to do, to prove, to fight for, to learn from.

You are only just starting. You are still becoming, changing, evolving — so keep going, and don’t stop.