Recommended for you

Start writing a post

Health and Wellness

20 Things I Learned During 20 Years of Experiencing Life

We are all students of life

April Petesch

Aug 31, 2019

Shippensburg University

20 Things I Learned During 20 Years of Experiencing Life

personal photo

I've been alive for 20 years as of August 14th. It's surreal I've been alive that long and with that territory of life experience comes valuable knowledge. In no particular order or age, here's 20 things I learned.

20. Everything is connected to our breath.

Giphy

My several years of yoga taught me that one. It's important to remember to just breathe, especially when life becomes overwhelming. If we allow it so, our breath can heal. So, breathe deeply.

19. Love is our core

Giphy

Love is the core of us and our universe. Love is fundamental to our sanity. Also, I'm a major hippie at heart for holding this as a belief as strongly as I do.

18. You've got to earn your place...somehow

Giphy

We all have a niche, and a right to be here. We just have to find it. It's usually rooted in our passions. Mine is for the environment and humanity.

17. Friends can be hard to make, and easier to lose.

Giphy

Friendship is fluid, and I've many friends in my life. Thank goodness most of them have been for real, but I'm not without my betrayals.

16. Use what you got to get ahead in life

Giphy

Never be afraid to use your assets to get ahead in life. Whether that's charm or skill, you've got this! I learned this when I was 5 years old and selling tissue ghost as Halloween decor. My cuteness as a 5-year-old got them every time, aha.

15. Change is exciting and scary

Giphy

Life is all about change. Everything is temporary. Once I accepted that Life got a lot more sentimental.

14. Things get more complex as you grow older

Giphy

Things are so much simpler in your childhood. You don't have job, bills, or any of that hard adulting stuff. Plus, the law is just confusing to comprehend.

13. Everyone is human

Giphy

In my teenage years, I realized everyone is human and has a wholly unique inner world. Humans make mistakes and that's okay. we are all humans, rather than machines.

12. Finding your niche is everything

Giphy

This goes along with earning your place. Yet, beyond earning it you have to find it. This can prove difficult but it's not impossible. I'm still finding mine.

11. Having faith

Giphy

Faith isn't essential but it sure does make living life a heck of a lot easier. It gives you something to believe in and hope for.

10. Your words have power

Giphy

Say what you mean and mean what you say. Life gets easier once you do that.

9. Be yourself

Giphy

Be authentically you and your whole life will fall into place.

8. Change is everything

Giphy

Be and exemplify the change you wish to see in the world. Change begins with you.

7. People won't always like you

Giphy

People won't always like you for you. They might think your weird or whatever but that's okay! the right people will like you.

6. Age is mostly number

Giphy

Age matters for alcohol and dating when you are younger. Yet, it doesn't count for liking things from your childhood like stuffies or pokemon. Enjoy the finer things in life regardless of age.

5. Experience is valuable

Giphy

Adults used to tell me this all the time a young teen but I brushed them off. I realized in my later years how right they were though. It's because of this experience that I'm able to make wiser decisions and not get burned as bad twice from the same situation.

4. Friends are important but you are more so

Giphy

Friendship is arguably one of the most important things in our life. Yet a real friendship would never ask you to harm yourself in any way. Take care of yourself first.

3. Allow yourself to love again

Giphy

Love is everything, so always allow yourself to love again after healing from a betrayal or loss. It's possible and essential.

2. Express yourself free of judgement

Giphy

Life is full of judgment but don't let that get in the way of expressing your individuality. Dress I up, or get that piercing or tat. You got this, you do you boo.

1. Life is worth it

Giphy

It took me so long to realize this but it is so worth it. Life is an adventure and you never know what's next- that's the fun part! It's all about your perception.

lifestyle

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Entertainment

25 Beatles Lyrics: Your Go-To Guide for Every Situation

The Best Lines from the Fab Four

SUNY Binghamton

95330

Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less

best beatles lyrics

Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Smith College

133532

college students waiting in a long line in the hallway

StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

waitlisted

Recommended for you

20 Things I Learned During 20 Years of Experiencing Life

We are all students of life

20. Everything is connected to our breath.

19. Love is our core

18. You've got to earn your place...somehow

17. Friends can be hard to make, and easier to lose.

16. Use what you got to get ahead in life

15. Change is exciting and scary

14. Things get more complex as you grow older

13. Everyone is human

12. Finding your niche is everything

11. Having faith

10. Your words have power

9. Be yourself

8. Change is everything

7. People won't always like you

6. Age is mostly number

5. Experience is valuable

4. Friends are important but you are more so

3. Allow yourself to love again

2. Express yourself free of judgement

1. Life is worth it

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

Trending Topics

Subscribe to our
Newsletter