I've always imagined myself to have kids in the future.
That's always been a goal for me, and I hope one day that it will actually happen. And if it doesn't--well, then, I guess it doesn't. But if it does, I can only hope that I will be able to pass on these 20 tidbits of information that I have learned during my 20 years of life.
1. If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.
Is this a quote taken directly from "Back to the Future"? Of course it is! But it's been the quote that has gotten me through periods of darkness and extreme self-doubt. I can only hope that my future children will be able to take this advice and succeed in anything that they do.
2. No one is "your other half". You're whole without another person.
I've written about this before, and I'm passionate about it because it's something that I had to learn the hard way. The only person who can truly make you happy is yourself, and the second you accept that is the moment that life becomes just a little bit easier.
3. Above all else, do the right thing.
My principal all throughout 5th grade would say this to us every morning on the classroom television as he was closing off on the morning announcements. I didn't really take it in stride then--I was 10-years-old and my biggest problem was who I would play with at recess. 10 years later though, I have to say this is an incredibly important lesson. You will have times where you will need to make a decision, and you must make sure it's the right one.
4. Don't be afraid to try new things just because you're scared of rejection.
The fear of rejection is a tough obstacle to hurtle over. Believe me, been there done that. But you will never know what will happen if you don't try and living in a state of "What If?" is incredibly worse than rejection.
5. Never be afraid to be your real self.
Be genuine in everything that you do and be proud of you were meant to be. I've tried to change myself before, and it didn't work out in anybody's favor. Your real self is who you should always be, and you must take pride in all of the qualities that make you unique.
6. Independence is a trait to be proud of.
It is also something that people will try to strip away from you. Never allow this to happen. Be self-assured and empowered in everything that you do, and do not let anybody make you feel otherwise.
7. You will be wrong and make mistakes sometimes.
The important thing though is to own up to it. If you're anything like me this is something that can be hard to do at first, but it's an incredibly important quality to have. You will not survive in life if you think you are top Honcho all the time.
8. Strength and leadership are not without compassion.
Being a strong leader means having empathy and being kind to others. You will never be a strong leader if you act with total authority with no respect for others.
9. Laughter can fix almost any bad situation.
Whether this means binging stand-up comedians on Netflix or hanging out with your friends to just act like complete dorks, if you're having a bad day, do something that will make you laugh. As the old saying goes, laughter is the best medicine.
10. Compliment others.
As a rule, I try to compliment someone at least once a day, and I typically do it to strangers. Whether it's just saying you like their shirt or their smile, the smallest compliment will make someone's day.
11. Never stay in a relationship just because it's convenient.
Again, this has happened to me. Don't be afraid to be branch out and to break off a relationship that simply isn't working anymore. As we already discussed, you're whole without another person and if you're staying with someone just because you're scared of being alone, you're not in a healthy relationship anymore.
12. Showing emotions does not constitute as weakness.
And this is something that I still struggle with. I tend to bottle everything up and hold back from crying even when I really need to because I don't want to appear as weak to others. But it's okay to cry and it's okay to show emotions, it just means that you are human.
13. Do what you're passionate about.
Do you know how many times people tried to talk me out of being an English major and attempted to dissuade me about pursuing career paths in areas that are not typically seen as standard? Your goals may not be realistic to others, but if you believe in yourself, nothing should hold you back.
14. Make sure you read. A lot.
Not only will your reading, spelling, and writing comprehension improve, but reading is also a terrific escape that will allow you to gain incredible knowledge along the way.
15. Learn to say "It is what it is" and walk away.
There are some things you will not be able to fix, for example, a bad test grade. There's no sense in dwelling on your mistake. The only thing you can do now is learn from it.
16. Grades are important, but they aren't everything.
The worst thing you can do is tie your self-worth to your grades. You are more than just your GPA and you should never allow it to predict how your life will turn out.
17. Have a good work ethic and give everything you do 138%
Being a hard worker is an important quality to have. You won't get very far without it.
18. Life will knock you down, but make sure you learn how to stand back up.
You will go through periods of darkness, of stress, of sadness, and there will be times where it feels like one bad thing keeps coming after another. Whatever you do though, don't allow the bad times to keep you down. Pick yourself back up and put one foot in front of the other. I promise you will get through it as long as you tackle through it.
19. Learn to accept others, no matter how different they may seem from you.
A poor quality to have is a lack of acceptance and bigotry. The rule is bendable, by all means, if someone is racist or anti-semitic then their opinion is completely irrelevant and you should let them know, but if someone has a different sexuality, is a different gender, practices a different religion, or is not the same race as you, then you should accept them as they are and never try to change them. Preach love, never hate.
20. The world is a crazy place. Just make sure that you experience it.
Take risks, make mistakes, travel to new places, do things you normally wouldn't, and never be afraid to start over. You only have one life, make sure it's a good one.
