» 25 Things Every Woman Should Have By The Time She Turns 25

1. Enough confidence to no longer
feel the need to justify what she eats,
who she dates or what she wears, not
only to other people, but to herself.
2. The goal of a bank account with a
few months’ living expenses in it, if
she doesn’t have that already. Just in
case.
3. Only the phone numbers,
Facebook friends, weekend plans,
and roommates she actually wants.
4. A best friend who is like a sister.
5. A space of her own.
6. A good idea of what she needs in a
romantic relationship, not just what
she wants, or what she thinks she
needs, and the willingness to explore
different people and other ideas to
find what exactly that is.
7. A closet of what she considers to
be her “staples,” and among these
things, something to wear to an
interview, funeral, wedding,
impromptu Friday night drink at a
casual bar and dream date if ever
someone were to call out of the blue.
8. The tact and grace to ask for a
raise, a promotion, a change in a
relationship or a date with someone
she’s into.
9. The faith that she deserves those
things.
10. A favorite coffee order, go-to
restaurant for when friends visit
from out of town, hairstyle that takes
less than five minutes in the
morning, “thank you” cards in her
desk drawer, the print copy of her
favorite book, and bedding that she
is proud to show off.
11. A hobby that has nothing to do
with drinking, shopping or somebody
else.
12. The recipes for a number of easy
meals memorized.
13. The desire and discipline to
actually cook for herself. (Just
herself.)
14. A trip she tells awesome stories
about and a trip she has awesome
plans for.
15. A sense that she’s let go of
resenting other women for what they
do or don’t have over her.
16. Enough of a healthy relationship
with her body that her contentment
no longer hinges on comparison, or
what her partner would think.
17. At least one date in her memory
with the kind of partner who
wouldn’t care about those things
anyway.
18. Forgiveness if she’s dated men
who haven’t quite matured as
quickly as women tend to in their
early 20s.
19. The knowledge of what she wants
in bed and the confidence to ask for
it without feeling uncomfortable.
20. A drill, a non-stick pan, a credit
card line nobody else has access to, a
bra that she was measured for at the
store and working knowledge of how
to change a tire, unclog a pipe, make
an investment and find shoes on the
extra 40% rack.
21. A relationship with her mother,
even if it’s the decision that their
relationship will be at least
functioning, if not familial.
22. A passport, a sturdy piece of
luggage, and the ability to pack the
essentials at a moment’s notice
should she be offered the chance to
get away for a weekend, a week, or a
whole new life.
23. The following emergency kit:
Tylenol/Advil, eyedrops, a tampon,
hand sanitizer, a fresh pair of
underwear, a travel sized
toothbrush, hydrocolloid bandages
for blisters, $20 cash, a condom, and
Plan B.
24. Forgiveness for who she was.
25. An idea of who she wants to be.