When I was little, I thought that 21-year-olds were so grown up. Now that I'm 21 myself, I see it a different way. That's why I made a list of 21 quotes to help other 21-year-olds out. Your early twenties aren't all fun and games, sometimes life is stressful and you need some advice.
1. "Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.” -Walt Whitman
Life isn't always easy, but if you keep your chin up, things will eventually get better, and you'll be able to move passed the hard times.
2. "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you start every day with a positive attitude, the odds of having a good day increase. You're the only person that has control over your own attitude.
3. "Dream as if you will live forever; Live as if you will die today.” -James Dean
This is pretty self-explanatory. Dream big and seize the day. Carpe Diem.
4. "You have to be a responsible adult and support yourself because no one else is going to do it for you.” -Susane Colasanti
Your 20s are filled with your first attempts at "adulting," so it's better to learn how to be responsible as soon as possible because you can't live in your childhood bedroom forever.
5. "It doesn't matter what others think. This is about YOU. Create a life that you genuinely love with your whole heart & start with yourself.” -Brittany Burgunder
Everyone has been worried about what other people think about their clothes, hair, major, ect., and sometimes you need to remind yourself that other people's opinions aren't nearly as important as yours when it comes to your life.
6. "Don’t try to make everyone happy; you can’t. The only ones who try are clowns.” -Matshona Dhliwayo
Growing up, it's really easy to get caught up in making everyone else happy and forgetting to do what makes you happy.
7. “The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it.” -Thomas S. Monson
You can't change the past, you can only learn from your mistakes and prepare for the future. Don't waste your present worrying about what is to come and what has already been done though.
8. “Don't count the days, make the days count.” -Mohammad Ali
While graduation is approaching, it can be tempting to simply count off the days til you get your diploma, but you should be doing everything you can to make the most out of your college experience by working hard and making memories.
9. “Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.” -Ronald Reagan
There's only so much that we can actually do as humans. However, no matter what happens, you should always take this into account.
10. “Being yourself is all it takes. If you want to impress someone don't be someone else, just be yourself.” -Selena Gomez
You're actually pretty special the way that you are, so don't try to change who you are to get someone to like you. You can't make people like you, so don't change who you are trying to do that. If you're meant to be with someone, they will like the person that you truly are.
11. “Don't do things that kill you.” -John Bytheway
While this may seem like a no-brainer, it's surprising how often us 20-somethings get ourselves into trouble.
12. “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.” -Albus Dumbledore
Hard times are never fun, but happiness is always there if you allow yourself to be happy. It can be tempting to wallow all the time when you're going through something difficult, but there will always be something that brings you happiness if you allow yourself to see it.
13. “Just because you want to join the party does not mean you are required to stay until the last drunk passes out.” -Sophia Dembling
Every college student has suffered from FOMO at least once in their life, but this quote couldn't be more spot-on. Don't stay at the bar, club, or party when you don't actually want to be there. Go to sleep if you want to leave. You're probably not going to be missing as much as you think you will.
14. “It’s a journey and the sad thing is you only learn from experience, so as much as someone can tell you things, you have to go out there and make your own mistakes in order to learn.” -Emma Watson
When you make a mistake, it's not usually the end of the world. You have to make mistakes in order to grow because no one is perfect. Sometimes you have to experience the consequences of making a mistake in order to learn a lesson.
15. "No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind. " -Taylor Swift
Life isn't always going to be filled with unicorns and rainbows, but your true character can be shown in how you treat others when you're stressed, angry, or sad.
16. "Success is not easy and I think everyone should know that hard work and perseverance and being open to giving back are so much more powerful than stepping all over people to get to the top. " -Misty Copeland
While you may think that stepping on others can be a shortcut to success, hard work is the more honorable way to accomplish your goals.
17. “You're braver than you believe and stronger and smarter than you think.” -A.A. Milne, Winnie The Pooh
At 21, a lot of things in the adult world seem overwhelming and it's easy to feel lost and get stressed out, but you're going to be okay. You can handle a lot more than you think you can.
18. “If you really want something you don’t stop for anyone or anything until you get it. " -Blair Waldorf
If you have a goal, don't stop until you've accomplished it. Don't let anything or anyone put your dreams on hold.
19. "If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes." -Andrew Carnegie
Having a goal gives you something to live for. It gives you a future to dream of.
20. "Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future." -Paul Boese
Forgiving someone may not change what they did to you, but holding grudges doesn't accomplish anything. Don't let your heart grow bitter towards a friend or ex that hurt you because you're hurting yourself by holding onto that anger. If you forgive then you can move passed the problem and grow from the experience.
21. "It's kind of fun to do the impossible." -Walt Disney
If you have a goal, go out and accomplish it. It's fun to see the dreams you've always had come true.
