I want to share a blog from someone who wrote an awesome post not too long ago about becoming a better person. Thank you Tia from the 5 o’clock girl. If you haven’t check out her blog yet, please do – lots of fun stuff for busy women on the go!

It never fails. Every day I log on, I see a blog posting of a 22 year old telling people how to “do life”. The things you should have or be “to be successful.” Being a grown up isn’t about what you wear or choosing things to like because someone told you to. It is about lessons that you encounter and learn from. Note that I said “learn from”. So I thought I’d give it a go and toss out more practical tips as someone slightly older, semi-successful, well traveled, and far more self-aware individual.

Here are some things I’ve learned in my thirty-one years of existence. I’ve been lucky to have a few great mentors in my teens and twenties when I was dramatic, emotional, and at times, co-dependent. I never saw it in myself and often wondered why drama followed me around until three great bosses (and my parents) taught me to live for myself and the rest will fall into place.

1. If you don’t know the answer, say you don’t know and then find the answer. No one will fault you for owning up to your lack of knowledge. It’s called growth. They will, however, hold it against you if you bullshit your way through and give wrong advice.
2. Always do more than is required of you. That doesn’t mean do everything for everyone. It just means that average people get average results. If you’re not willing to work a little harder, don’t complain when you don’t accomplish anything.
3. Say yes to things you may not feel like doing. Say yes to opportunities that will make you better, brighten your horizon or may introduce you people who can pull you out of your slump. Say yes, but never allow yourself to be coerced into things you truly don’t want.
4. There is nothing wrong with unconventional dating. You may feel you deserve more than to meet someone online and have an underwhelming “how we met” story. But, the truth is that you deserve to find someone compatible with you, who respects and loves you. And you should recognize that love may not look like you thought it would. Or the person you fall for may have been out of your grasp because you aren’t running in circles that would have collided. Life isn’t the movies.
5. You’re never too old for rain boots and always keep an umbrella at your desk. It’s funny how something as insignificant as rain has the ability to ruin your whole day. It’s a small step in the right direction of being prepared and learning to anticipate change.

Tia has 10 more tips. To read those, visit her blog the 5 o’clock girl.