On January 9, 2017, I turned twenty years old. While most people dread the years between 18 and 21, I've found them to be the most full of growth and learning that I've experienced thus far in my life. With two decades of life now under my belt, I've decided that, for whatever it's worth, my gift back will be what I've learned in 20 years of life condensed into 20 pieces of advice. Enjoy.
1. Start each day with a grateful heart. It is so, so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day drama that we rarely take time to be thankful for what we have. Whether or not you believe in God, it is never a bad idea to give thanks for being alive to see another day. Giving thanks is not, and should not be, limited to one day of the year. Giving thanks is for every day.
2. Give more than you receive. One of the biggest joys in life is giving. Although some of you are young and may not have a lot of money, something you do have that is priceless is your time. Give your time to those in need, to those who don't deserve it, and to those you love.
3. There are many things you can't control, but attitude and effort are always within your control. This is a piece of advice that was handed down to me by a mentor, but nonetheless a piece of advice that is important. It's easy to be frustrated when we don't get the job we hoped for, or when we don't make the starting lineup for the team. These things are out of your control; concentrate on what you can control: your attitude and your effort. No one can take these things away from you.
4. Put down your phone for a day. Just for one day, go without your cell phone and experience life without the technology that we are inundated with every day. Go outside (it's still out there) and take a hike. Go find somewhere beautiful and spend an afternoon just taking in the amazing creation that abounds when you take the less-traveled path.
5. Live with intention. Don't plan things last minute. Make purposeful plans with people and be intentional about actually spending time with them (i.e. put your phone away). Choose to actively work on relationships with other people by being present with them.
6. Put on sunscreen. Self-explanatory, but still important to add. Sunburn = not fun. Not only that, but it prevents skin cancer.
7. Go back and read the last one because that was important. Seriously, read it again.
8. Volunteer. Find something, whether it be in your line of work, a hobby, or something you're passionate about, and find a way to volunteer for it. Give back to the community that supports you. Volunteering is an invaluable experience.
9. Tell your mom that you love her at least once a day. She loved you enough to give birth to you, loves you enough to sacrifice so much of herself for you, and she'll love you enough to sustain you for a lifetime (and then some). Tell her you love her back. I don't care how much you "hate" her because she didn't get you the right thing for Christmas. Tell her you love her, or one day you'll regret it.
10. Tell your dad that you love him, too. He does most of the stuff that your mom does, minus childbirth, so he deserves some credit, too.
11. Spend time with your grandparents. Ask them questions about what life was like "way back when" (a.k.a. the Stone Age). Ask them questions about what your parents were like when they were little. Tell them you love them.
12. Love the people who don't deserve it. There is this trend now where the thing to do is to cut people off who you are "so done with". Don't. Love them anyways. Show them crazy amounts of grace, because there's a pretty good chance that someone once showered you with grace when you didn't deserve it.
13. Try something new. Maybe it doesn't have to be every day, but you never know when you might pass something up that has the potential to end up being important to you one day.
14. Be an informed voter. The worst disservice you can do to yourself is to sell your vote short by not being informed. Know what all will be on the ballot and how it will affect you.
15. Lose your agenda. Don't go into conversations with an agenda. Let it go. Having agendas when we have conversations with others creates the loss of an opportunity to bridge gaps in beliefs, and that is what will divide us all if we let it.
16. Say you're sorry. It's okay to humble yourself and admit when you're wrong. Plus, it's healthy for you.
17. Say "no". Don't load your plate so heavily that you have no time for yourself. Don't say yes to something just because you're pressured into it. Learn to say "no".
18. Remember your manners. Nothing reflects more poorly on character than when someone doesn't say "please" or "thank you".
19. Love well. Traverse continents, climb mountains and fly across oceans for those you love. They are worth it every time, I promise.
20. End each day with a grateful heart. Be thankful for the challenges and blessings each day brings, and for the opportunity to have been alive to experience them.
