I recently turned 20 (which is a pretty big deal, in case you didn't know) and it occurred to me that during those years, I learned a lot. So here are 20 of them.
1. 20 is not very old. Like, at all.
I remember when I was a kid and used to think that people my age were so grown up. I even thought 18-year-olds were practically adults. Ha! Not even close. Now that I'm 20, I realize I couldn't have been more wrong. Deep down, I still feel like a kid. Sure, I'm in college and am planning my future career and life, but me, an adult? Nah.
2. And yet, you feel pretty old...
Logically I know that I'm not old, but come one, I'm no longer a teenager! That's so weird! So pretty much I've learned that being 20 means not feeling like an adult, but being forced to become one. It's scary and awesome at the same time.
3. You're stronger and more capable than you think.
It's safe to say that we've all had experiences and times in our lives that we honestly didn't think we could handle. And yet, somehow, we do. Things may not always go the way you want them to, and you might get bruised along the way along with some tears shed, but you got through it nonetheless; that's pretty awesome.
4. Hating on things you don't like is not cool.
I don't care what kind of music you like, what books you read, what fandoms you're in, or whatever else it is that you're interested in doing, as long as whatever it is isn't hurting you or someone else, there's no reason I or anyone else should be putting you down for it. We all have different interests and tastes in different things, and liking or not liking something doesn't make you better than anyone else. Besides, it's much more fun to enjoy what you love than to waste time and energy hating on the things you don't.
5. There are people that come in your life that aren't going to stay forever.
And that's okay. Sometimes it's best to appreciate the time you have with someone and when they no longer want to be a part of your life, let them go.
6. But some will stay and/or you'll meet new people.
Appreciate the people that stay and remember that you never know when or how you'll meet someone who will change your life.
7. Not caring what people think is the best thing ever, but can be hard to do.
One of the best thing you can accomplish is not caring about what other people think.
8. Sometimes you just need a break.
Life is hard, and sometimes, you need to slow down. Skipping one class won't be the end of the world and taking a break from cramming last minute for a test is healthier. That doesn't mean you slack on everything, but it's important to remember we have limits. And don't forget about naps. Naps make everything better.
9. Some people just aren't nice.
Nobody is perfect, but sometimes people just honestly don't care about other people or their feelings. But don't let them get to you. Because...
10. Choosing kindness is the better option.
Being rude and bitter is draining and pointless. So even when it seems like nobody else chooses it, choose to be nice.
11. You can only plan so much.
We're told to plan for so many things in our lives. Between college, a career, money, etc., we get convinced to have the mindset that we should have the rest of our lives planned out perfectly, but the thing is, you can't. Of course, it's good to plan, but nobody can predict the future. Life is part planning and part planning to go with the flow when life goes in a different direction.
12. Learning is awesome.
No, I'm not just talking about learning in school. It's cliche, but you really should never stop learning. And why would you want to? There's so many amazing things in this world to learn about and better understand.
13. Words matter.
“Watch your thoughts for they become words. Watch your words for they become actions. Watch your actions for they become habits. Watch your habits for they become your character. And watch your character for it becomes your destiny. What we think, we become." - author unknown.
14. Nobody really knows what they're doing.
Yes, even adults.
15. Don't be in a rush.
It seems like no matter how old we are, we're always rushing to the next big thing in life so much, we don't take the time to enjoy now. So whether it's growing up, a relationship, whatever, don't rush into it just because you think you need to.
16. You are capable of doing great things, but it helps to believe in yourself.
Doing something you want to do requires effort and hard work, but it also helps to believe in yourself. It can be difficult, and sometimes you will doubt yourself, but I've also learned that even when that happens, there's always someone who does believe in you.
17. You shouldn't compare yourself to others.
It can be so easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to people who seem to have their life together. The thing is, most of the time, they don't either. And even if they do have things figured out more than you, that's their life, not yours. Just because you don't have everything figured out doesn't mean you're a failure, it just means that you're path is different than theirs. Focus on your life, not everyone else's.
18. You are complete.
I know that saying "you complete me" to your significant other is a sweet thing to say and it is pretty cute, but it really isn't true. You aren't incomplete just because you aren't in a relationship. It might not seem like a big deal, but seeing yourself as a whole instead of incomplete can change your perspective on relationships in a positive way. Because relationships aren't about two halves becoming a whole, but rather to complete people, coming together to help make each other's lives a little more awesome.
19. It's okay to change.
Your opinion, interests, style, and lots of other are all things that change throughout our lives, but sometimes we feel like once we've established who we are to other people, we think we can't change very much from that persona. Change can be good. Change is often a result of learning and growing, and anyone who matters won't judge you for that.
20. Time goes by super fast.
So enjoy it. Not that you should be terrified, but it is crazy to look back and think of how fast time passes and keeps passing faster the older I get. It really does seem like I was just starting my first semester of college, and now in a little over one semester, I'll be a junior. Time is precious so enjoy even the small moments in life, because they might not seem so small later.
