Nine Life Lessons You Learn by 30

A proper quarterlife crisis involves a certain amount of disillusionment, ennui, boredom, fear, anxiety, and growing pains. But those terrifying sounding emotions are the ones that get all the press—how about giving that “growing” some props for once? Sure you’re in that weird nebulous post-adolescent pre-total-grownuphood other-space of life where you don’t quite have it together (or at least don’t feel like you do), but if you take a hard look at your life, there are at least a few things that you’ve probably figured out by now.

By Gwendolen Fairfax

You Know What Friendship Is

In high school or college, friendship was mostly a matter of geography—who you had classes with or who lived down the hall or joined the same club. Out in the real world for a while, you’ve learned that real friendship is made of tougher and—and dare we say it—better stuff. (Although just wait until you’re in your thirties and everyone’s getting married and having kids…that’s when the real test comes.)