Kelly Williams Brown

What concrete, tangible skills should you have by the age of thirty?

no one tells you this, but the first year out of college or on your own is really, really hard

Being a grown-up means treating others and yourself with decency and compassion, figuring out what needs to be done and then doing it with minimal fuss or self-pity.

Being an adult—heck, being a human—is hard. No one feels like they’re doing it correctly

Everyone does their best, and some people’s best is shitty. What is more important is how you correct the error, and what you do going forward to be different.

Sometimes, you’ll screw up or just not have a single bit of effort left in you, and that’s okay, too.

You can do it. I promise.

It is these small discoveries and decisions that, in the end, allow you to behave like an adult. It’s developing those good habits

It’s not always, or even usually, fun. But it has perks—personal pride, financial security, and the feeling of accomplishment and control that comes

there are lots of things you can control, and lots of decisions are up to you.

go forth, perform these steps (if you want!), check them all off, and feel smug at your newfound adult skills.