There has been many times where I question, "why me?" I wondered why life had to be so hard, and I wanted to give up more times than I would like to admit. But, through the hard times there has been an infinite amount of lessons learned, lessons that I learned the hard way, but wouldn't have it any other way now.
1. Some things never go as planned.
I used to try to control every aspect of my life and it would always end up in disappointment. Not because I wasn't good enough, or because I didn't try hard enough, but because you can't control everything and you really can't control fate. Learning this the hard was gave me the strength to let the things I can't control be.
2. Some people are only your friends when they need something.
This one sucked to learn but it was something that I am glad that I did. I can clearly see the people who are real and true and I can see through those who are not.
3. People you love are going to leave.
It hurts like hell but it is bound to happen once or twice. Without loss you never truly learn to love. I have lost some of the closest people in my life, people who were never supposed to leave, and because of that I love harder than ever before.
5. The world is a huge place.
Growing up in a smaller town you can almost feel the walls closing in on you. When you get out and get the chance to truly experience other parts of the world and other cultures it kind of slaps you in the face with how wrong you were...but in a good way.
6. Sometimes you are going to cry uncontrollably.
Emotions are inevitable and sometimes you just have to let it out. It isn't something to be embarrassed about because it truly happens to everyone. Trying to fake happiness for days on end is a lot harder than breaking down for a few hours. Learn from my mistakes or it will come out in a very public place.
7. Best friends aren't always forever.
This is the oldest story in the book. Your middle school and high school BFFs might drift away and your college BFF might turn out to be completely toxic. It hurts for awhile but it can really help you when forming new relationships.
8. You aren't as good as you think you are.
Someone is always going to be smarter, prettier, or more successful than you are. I think we all need to be knocked off of our high horses once in awhile, especially when we let it start getting to our head.
9. Your heart can break from more than just a bad break up.
Does it ever seem like you can feel your heart physically break? It can be from a bad break up, most definitely, but it can also be from the many other things that make you ever so upset. I have felt like my heart was going to burst in my chest, but I'm thankful for that because it means that I have things and people in my life who truly mean something.
10. There are people out there hoping that you fail.
Point blank, not everyone wants you to succeed. Maybe they are jealous or maybe they have absolutely no reason. This doesn't have to be a negative thing -- use it to burn brighter than ever before.
The things that hurt the most are the ones that help us find our way. If I hadn't learned these things the hard way then I probably would have never really learned them. Use the hardships to build you up and continue to shine like you were made to.
