Eighteen years may not seem like a whole lot of time on the large scale of life, but as many of us know, we learn a lot in those first 18 years. Here are the things that I've learned in my first 18 that I think are the most important.
1. Honesty is the best policy.
No matter what, lying is never the answer. You may go through life thinking it’s okay to say little white lies here and there. But, let's think about it, are they really necessary? Being honest with people will show your sincerity in respecting a person’s well-being. Although you may want to lie in order to protect someone from being hurt, being honest is usually preferred and the person will most likely appreciate it. Hearing the truth may be difficult at times, but it is what helps us to learn and grow. Respect people and be genuine. It’s the best thing you can do.
2. Crying is good therapy.
Letting out emotions can be the best way to cope with a situation. Believe me, crying is the best first step to recovery.
3. It’s okay to not be okay.
Life’s hard. No one said that it was going to be easy or that you had to have it all together. We’re human and we are subject to emotion. And that means we are allowed to not be okay. Cry a little (or a lot), stuff your face with food, have a date with your couch and Netflix…find a way to get through the pain, sadness or anxiety you’re feeling. Take your time but remember that even though it’s okay to not be okay, strive to be okay. We all deserve to be happy and you do too. So whatever it is that is bringing you down, don’t let it keep you down. Rise from the fall and strive to be okay again. Being okay is the least that you deserve.
4. Remember where you came from.
Never forget your roots. No matter how painful or beautiful, they are a part of you and they helped you to learn and grow. IT would not be possible for you to be where you are today without a foundation, so be grateful for where you came from and never forget it.
5. Strive for adventure.
Adventure is out there. Go and find it. (And do me a favor and don’t forget to capture it).
6. In life, you got to keep the faith.
There is always hope in tomorrow. With each new day, the sun emerges once again, obliterating the darkness that submerged us in despair. So focus on the light, not the darkness. Believe there is good in this world. Believe that you will get through this bump in the road. Don’t let it slow you down because life has so much to offer and if you don’t have hope for tomorrow, tomorrow may never come. Give faith a chance… it’s what we have to hold on to. For with faith there is hope, and with hope there is joy, and with joy there is life.
7. Your true friends will always come back to you…no matter what.
School, work and life in general will sometimes separate you from your friends. You may grow apart but always remember that the true friendships will always return in the end.
8. Life is a constant search of who you are… but you will never fully get there.
For your whole life you will be looking for your true self. Where you belong, who you are, what your future holds. These things will never be finite, however, because life isn’t finite. You may have a great sense of identity, but you will never know who you truly are because you’re constantly changing day by day, minute by minute, second by second.
9. Finding balance in life is the most simple thing in theory, but the hardest to actually execute.
It may be hard to balance everything. School work, social life, family time…it’s all a bit hard to juggle. And that’s okay. Use time management, set priorities, and always remember what is most important to you.
10. You will never fully know someone’s intentions.
You can’t read people’s minds… sorry! Don’t underestimate people but also don’t set too high of expectations. You need to be prepared to be let down or surprised. Because people don’t always turn out to be what we expect or have the intentions we thought they had.
11. Taking personal health days is essential.
Remember, you need a break once in a while. Life will not slow down for you, so make sure to take some time for yourself once in awhile to relax and enjoy yourself. It will benefit you in the long run.
12. Love takes effort. And if there is no effort, don’t dwell on it.
As they say, relationships are a two-way street… and well, they're right! Loving someone, whether it be a friend, family member or significant other, takes effort from both sides. You both must be willing to communicate, get to know each other, and spend time together. If effort is not put in from either side, the relationship cannot strive. I say this with a genuine heart, if they don’t put in the effort, let them go. Don’t spend time trying to push someone to try for something that they may not be interested in when you could be out there creating other relationships that are worthwhile. You are worth time and effort—don’t forget that. If someone doesn’t recognize that, don’t dwell on it but move on to someone who will give you their all.
13. Don’t let people walk all over you.
I cannot stress this enough. Do not let people take advantage of you or your abilities. You do not deserve to be used or trampled on. Strive to make people happy but do not let it get to the point where their happiness comes before yours.
14. Love at first sight… that’s not a thing.
Love takes time and you may not meet the person right away or know they're “the one” the first time that you look into their eyes. Love is patient.
15. Work hard. Play hard.
Put effort into your work. You were given wisdom for a reason so use that gift to the best of your ability. Though, at the same time, remember to have fun once in a while. Doing something you enjoy, or being with someone you love will ease your stress and make for a better day tomorrow.
16. Forgive and forget but remember to protect your well-being.
Forgiveness is vital to a happy life. We cannot walk through life with any feelings of guilt or remorse. Those feelings will only eat away at us. And although you may forgive, remember that you need to protect yourself from pain so it is okay to walk away.
17. Be happy to be with friends.
They are a rock that is vital for breathing. Don’t take them for granted because a friend can come and go. So be happy to be with them. Enjoy each moment because time is fleeting.
18. Take a leap of faith and you may learn to fly.
Sometimes you need to take that jump to see what you’re capable of. I have had my fair share of wimping out and regret those moments so much. Life is short and there is only so much you can do in a lifetime. Take that brave step to ask that special someone out on a date, to step in front of the class for your speech, to share a personal memory. Don’t be afraid of judgment or pain. Rather look for the good that may come of that jump. You may end up learning how to fly.
