With the new year comes new adventures and new age, also known as my birthday. My 20th birthday to be exact. I'm finally shedding my teen years and gradually moving into real adulthood. You know adulthood that isn't ending with "teen". With that being said, in no order here are 20 things I learned before turning 20

1.) You have to work hard to produce results.
Things won't be handed to you, you have to work for them good things come to those who wait but better things come to those who work and a reward for working for these results is so much better.

2.) Its okay to fail.

It's perfectly fine to fail. You can't win everything. Learn from your mistakes and do better next time.

3.) Don't give up
When you fail don't take your fail as a loss. Try again, move forward, produce results. Again, You have to work hard to produce results.

4.) There will always be someone who doesn't agree with you.

You will always find someone who doesn't agree with you, even if you're 110% right and thats perfectly fine. Not everyone agrees with you and you won't agree with everyone.

5.) Not everyone will like you.

Yes, I said it. Not everyone will like you, just like you won't like everyone. It's life.

6.) People will take you for granted.

It’s a sad but true part of life. You can roll with it or you can cut it out of your life. I’m not saying that everyone you meet is going to take you for granted but it is bound to happen.

7.) You can be nice to everyone and people will still not like you.

This is something that I learned through working retail and if you work retail you probably know a little something about this. Sometimes being nice to everyone intimidates other people. It’s something you’re going to learn to have to accept.

8.) Its easier said than done.

It's always easier said than done. This applies to anything. Take it as you will.

9.) Your mom is usually right about people.

Mom’s have a certain sixth sense and can detect someone toxic to your life before you can. Listen to your mother because she's usually right about everything.

10.) You have to learn things for yourself.

“Learn from my mistakes” is something you've probably heard a thousand and one times. Sometimes you just have to learn from your own mistakes and your own experience even if the result is the same as everyone else.

11.) It's okay to go with the flow of things.

It's okay to go with whatever everyone else is doing. You don't have to figure things out for yourself allthe time. If something works for someone else and you, why not go with the flow?

12.) It's okay to create your own flow.

The flip side to number 11 is that you don't have to do what everyone else is doing. It's okay to branch out and do things differently if it works for you.

13.) You’re responsible for your happiness.

This one took some time to learn but I finally did it. I finally figured out that I am responsible for making myself happy. I can’t put my happiness in someone or something else. Now, thats not to say that someone or something can’t make me happy. It just means you ultimately decide how you take thing and how you react to them.

14.) You don't need anyone who doesn't need you.

Losing people is tough. Especially if you thought that they were going to be around forever. If they chose to leave, let them go.

15.) Other peoples opinions don't matter.

If you read my article about makeup you know this is something that I really struggle with. But I am learning and implementing this everyday. This also ties in with being responsible for your own happiness. If you let other peoples opinions decide how you live your happiness, your happiness is less likely to come across as genuine.

16.) It’s perfectly fine to take a risk.

Taking a risk is something I know I usually steer clear of and I’m sure most other people do as well. However, sometimes the result of the risk you take turns out to be great. You don’t always have to be risky and live on the edge but sometime it's okay to do so. Even if the results aren’t good. At least now you know.

17.) Speak up.

This one ties back into my retail experience. This year I was promoted to a key holder position at my current job. Meaning that I have more responsibility and my opinion matters. I was recently told by my District Manager that I have good ideas and I know what I’m doing but I’m also very quite and sit in the back even though I know the answers. He told me to speak up and let my voice be heard. So thats something I’m working on implementing now. “You have a voice, Let yourself be heard.”

18.) Long distance is hard but doable

Long distance relationships or friendships in my case are extremely hard but they are doable. My best friend lives in California, (I moved to Washington from California) and we always talk about how hard it is to not live around the corner from each other and just be able to go to each other’s house and hang out or talk about our day. But we make it work. We FaceTime. We talk on the phone, snapchat, twitter, etc. We make it work and I’m so grateful that we do because I don't know what I would do with her.

19.) Do what makes you happy.

I know some of my other points tie into this a lot but I feel that it’s so important to reiterate this. If coloring your hair pink makes you happy, do you hair pink! If going to the gym makes you happy, go to the gym! Do what makes you happy! Not what makes everyone else happy because at the end of the day, it's only you and your happiness, whatever that may be.

20.) Be thankful for everyday.

Growing up means being exposed to a lot more of the real world. I see what's happening and I’m more aware of whats going on around me. With that being said,I’m thankful and extremely grateful for everyday. I’m grateful for the small things that life gives me and I am especially thankful for the people in my life.

So there you have it. 20 things I learned before turning 20 and though a lot of these are super cliche, they're also super true and something I implement to my life day by day.