As someone who is in her mid-twenties, I find it very important that all of us evaluate our lives up to this point and think about all the things we have, or have not, done. One day we will be all be grown up and can no longer use the excuse that we're young. Although it is ideal to plan your life out, sometimes it's just nice to have a list of things to do, and just figure it out from there. There's no fun in doing everything by the book. Get out and do something fun, or maybe something that you could never see yourself doing.
1. Read a book.
More than enough times I have heard a millennial say that they only have time to read their textbooks and that college sucked the fun out reading for pleasure. I think there needs to be a movement to go back and pick up a paperback and read it. I get this sense of accomplishment every time I read and finish a new novel. It's so different from watching television, and it's something that everyone should enjoy at least once.
2. Travel alone.
This is something that I have always wanted to do. I have not had the opportunity to do so but I have heard that it is one of the most relaxing things one can do for themselves. Having friends or family to tag along for vacation is always great, but being alone sometimes can do the heart and soul some good.
3. Volunteer in a hospital.
When I was 20 years old, I volunteered at Children's Hospital and my outlook on life was forever changed. I discovered that I had been taking my own life for granted. Here I am able to do all of the things that I ever wanted to do and then some but I was sitting there limiting myself. There are kids in there that were wishing they do something as simple as go home and visit their families. Volunteering is a great thing to do, but when it's a hospital it is definitely a humbling experience.
4. Write a letter.
Not an email, not a Facebook message. A real letter that requires you to use paper and pen. The letter can be to yourself, or anyone in the world you want to write to. Most millennials don't even know which address goes where on a letter. That's really sad to me. Write your grandma a letter and make her day.
5. Take a road trip.
This is something that I have always wanted to do but just haven't had the time. Being in college there are ample opportunities to get on the road with your friends, and this year I plan on doing just that.
6. Learn how to cook.
I cannot tell you how many of my friends have asked me to cook for them, or teach them how. It's really not that hard to find a recipe (especially since Pinterest was invented). You can find a recipe for anything on there. Teach yourself how to make a dish other than Kraft macaroni and impress your friends and family with your cooking skills.
7. Say yes to a date.
A lot of us have turned down dates before I'm sure. Why? Why not say yes to the next person who asks to take you out. You never know what a person is like until you make the effort to find out.
8. Learn to love yourself.
I definitely struggle with this a lot because I have negative self talk every day. I have heard that if you tell yourself something nice every day, or you write a different compliment down every day, you'll eventually start to believe it. I think it's definitely worth trying!
9. Tell your crush how you feel.
You only have one life to live. The worst thing the person can say is that they don't feel the same way. Do you really want to wonder what if for the rest of your life? Do it right now. You don't have to do something spectacular to post on Instagram either. All you have to do is send a text about how you feel or my favorite, do it in person.
10. Do something spontaneous.
All my life, I have played it safe and never tried to do anything that was out of the ordinary. While this is okay, your life is never full of surprises. I think it's important that we do at least one or two things that weren't well thought out.
Now, all you have to do is get up and start marking things off your list. The rest of your life starts today.
