21, otherwise referred to as "twenty-fun", is an age where you can finally legally purchase your first alcoholic drink.
While there is all this hype once you finally turn 21, there is also this realization that you're at the age where you have to start getting your life in order. I may not be at the stage where I have all of the answers, but I do know that I have learned many valuable lessons over these 21 years.
Here are 12 lessons that I've learned throughout my 21 years:
I think one of the biggest lessons I have taken away from all these years is that, in the end, you can't be so hard on yourself because at the end of the day, all you have is yourself. People will come and go in your life, take care of yourself and your needs before holding someone else's on a higher pedestal.
2. Don't be too serious.
I think over the years I have turned into this person that takes everything very seriously and it takes a lot for me to let loose and have some fun. Although it is sometimes a good thing to take life as seriously as possible (you do only have one life to live), it's also good to balance it out with having some fun in between.
3. Not everyone has the same heart you do.
It's a sad day when you learn this lesson, but it also helps you open your eyes to the people that don't deserve to be in your life.
4. Cut out toxic people.
They have no place on your journey to this happy life you plan on living, don't let them eat you away with their stress and negativity.
5. It is not your job to try and fixed damaged people.
Your job is to take care and focus on yourself. If you don't have another life that you are responsible for taking care of, take care of yourself. People that are damaged and treat you poorly most likely do not want to work on improving themselves. This isn't to sound heartless, but try and have better judgment on the people that are worthy of your help and weed out the people that do not deserve it.
6. Never stop dreaming.
Your dreams and aspirations are both something that has kept you happy ever since you were a little kid, although life will throw as many curveballs at you as possible, don't let that stop you from achieving your goals and dreams. It's something that does keep you motivated.
7. Don't fear rejection.
This still is one of the hardest lessons for me to grasp onto. Rejection... it just isn't something that is fun to go through by any means. Yet, if your fear of rejection is holding you back from opportunities that you have been waiting for, why let it get in your way? The worst thing that happens is that you're told "no". After that, you'll get up back on your feet and dust yourself off.
8. Don't be afraid to take some risks.
So what if you "fail" in the process, at least you can say that you weren't scared of doing something that was out of your comfort zone.
9. You don't need to have ALL of the answers.
You most likely will never figure everything out in your life that you constantly question, and that's okay. Maybe some things were never meant to be known.
10. Let sh*t go.
Another tough lesson to follow through with for me personally. It's not so much that I hold grudges against the people that have wronged me in my life, but I do tend to beat myself up about it. Even if it is something that happened years ago, I'll cling to it because it still affects the way that I live my life now. Yet, it just isn't worth it to stress about something you can't change.
11. Your life will work out, even if it's not the way you planned it.
If you asked 6-year-old me where I'd be at the age of 21, I would give you an answer that does not even closely match up to where I am currently, but that's fine. I am a firm believer that everything does happen for a reason and every hurdle, obstacle, heartbreak and everything in between is meant to guide me in the direction I am supposed to go.
12. Never give up on yourself.
Countless times I have wanted to just throw in the towel and say "f*ck it" to anything and everything. If I ever did that, who knows if I would even make it to the age of 21. Everyone has a story and a struggle, some may have it better and some may have it worse, but it isn't about comparing yourself to the world that is around you. What it is about is making sure that you give yourself the love and respect that you deserve. Success is right in front of your reach if you work hard and allow it to be. Don't resist, just live.
I have learned some pretty valuable things about myself and the society that surrounds me. Although to some I may just be some kid who's 21 and has no idea what she is talking about, I think that I have done enough searching within myself to grasp onto these valuable lessons and who knows what other lessons I will learn in another 21 years. I am ready to embrace all of them.
