Life's hidden gems of wisdom are all around us. Sometimes the greatest lessons are chillin' right underneath our noses. Or drains. If you have ever lived in a freshman dorm, then you can probably relate to the following proverbs I learned from my freshman dorm showers.

1. When the water starts rising at the bottom of my shower, I always look to the drain.

There is usually a little ring of hair from previous showers, but not too much…until I try to clean it up and I end up pulling a bird-sized wad of hair through the drain grate. Life lesson: Don’t judge a situation unless you know what’s going on under the surface, because the real problems are usually hidden right out of sight.

2. The only way to turn on my freshman dorm shower was to get inside of it, which posed a problem.

I would inevitably suffer 5-8 seconds of freezing cold water on my already cold self. But then I got creative and have been walking into warm showers ever since. Life lesson: Be smarter than the shower; many of life’s little frustrations exist because we allow them to by assuming that’s “just how it is”.

3. With all the air currents swirling throughout the shower area, I can't always control the way the curtains blow.

And sometimes people might get a glimpse at my naked self, but I got tired of policing my shower curtains. So I just accepted the fact that awkward situations are bound to ensue and decided to enjoy my shower. Life lesson: we can't predict the winds of life, and sometimes that means we find ourselves in the middle of really awkward situations. But that doesn't mean we shower with our clothes on. Accept that awkwardness happens and don’t let it paralyze you.

4. Ever stepped on a Lego? It’s not fun.

Have you ever stepped on the hard, plastic razor covers that like to hide in plain sight on the shower floor? Yeah, its the same thing. Life lesson: compassion. When you take a new razor to the shower, have compassion on the souls after you and throw away the invisible Lego of death. We gotta help each other out.

5. I like to sing in the shower, but it doesn't usually sound pretty.

I mean, moving around and trying not to inhale water isn't really the best way to hold an impressive note. Life lesson: sing anyways, who cares if you sound like a drowning cat. We don't have to be insta-perfect all the time.

6. Realizing you forgot your shampoo.

That’s when you yell until someone hears you. No one wants to run down the freezing hallway in a wet birthday suit. Life lesson: no one will ever know something is wrong or you need help unless you speak up. And sometimes you just have to yell for help.

7. When shaving your legs in a hurry, take time to stay balanced because if you don't, you will fall into the shower next to you and that would be so embarrassing.

Life lesson: in the face of endless demands and expectations, it's worth it to take time to stay balanced - to rest well, eat healthy, feed your soul and sharpen your mind. That way you aren't falling into someone else's shower and you emerge with smooth legs.