Life Lessons at 35: What I Know (and What I Still Don’t)

This episode is brought to you by CLEARSTEM: My favorite skincare brand that fights acne and aging at the same time, with zero pore-clogging ingredients, ever. Get 15% off at clearstem.com/Valeria with code VALERIA.

In this special solo episode of Not Alone, Valeria reflects on turning 35 and what this milestone means to her. She opens up about the lessons she’s carrying forward, the habits and pressures she’s choosing to leave behind, and the aspirations guiding her next chapter. From learning to be more present and putting herself first, to accepting that not everyone will like you, Valeria shares the mindset shifts that have shaped her growth. She talks about aging in a culture obsessed with youth, embracing contradictions as part of evolution, and the importance of pausing before reacting. With honesty and vulnerability, she explores her own “hero’s journey,” reflects on her children and mother getting older, and why success is about feeling, not chasing. It’s an intimate, thoughtful conversation on awareness, boundaries, and stepping into your mid-thirties with clarity and confidence.

Shop my look from this episode: shopmy.us/collections/2367051

Follow me: instagram.com/valerialipovetsky

Books I Mentioned:

The Art of Thinking Clearly: amzn.to/3Iiy9ds

The Power Pause: amzn.to/4mYaM88

The Hero's Journey: amzn.to/3JYXBoY

What we talked about:

0:24 - Start of the conversation

0:30 - Turning 35

2:40 - Sharing the things Valeria knows now

2:46 - Life is all about evolution and contradicting yourself

4:25 - Learning how to be more present

7:15 - The importance of putting yourself first

8:50 - Pausing

10:55 - Most things don’t need a reaction

11:50 - Being “okay” with not being liked by everyone

13:40 - Choosing your own lens on life

15:11 - Clearstem Ad

16:25 - “The Hero’s Journey” Breakdown

20:26 - Things she may never figure out

20:39 - The idea of time

22:14 - Feeling success instead of chasing the next goal

23:15 - How to age in a world obsessed with youth

26:33 - Being kind vs. being nice

29:30 - Taking more time to process emotions

30:49 - Leaving behind having answers for everything

31:54 - Overexplaining my boundaries to get approval

33:04 - Moving away from sharing too much, too fast online

36:02 - Sharing things that took a long time to process

37:10 - Admiring Pamela Anderson

38:00 - Igniting Awareness

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