With each year passing and another candle being added to the cake, I have been allowed to learn more both about myself and this beautiful universe we all call home. While it may not seem like much, these are the 19 most valuable life lessons I have learned in my 19 years of life.

1. Tear down your walls.

Hearts and minds are endless and if we block our hearts, minds and souls from others we take away the ability to find people to explore with. People help you find who you are, forget that nonsense that you have to do it all on your own. Are you going to figure out who you are locked in a room by yourself or are you going to find who you are out in the real world being faced with new experiences? Is it scary? Why yes of course it is scary opening up, but why face life alone?

2. Allow yourself to get hurt sometimes.

Yes, the people that are closest to you are the ones who can hurt you the most and yes by opening up you are giving them that power… but if they do hurt you then you can become that much stronger from the experience. There goes that word again... experience. There is unbelievable value in experiences.

3. Be close you your parents.

While I understand not everyone has this opportunity, I cannot stress enough that being close to your parents is one of the most valuable parts of life. You are literally these two people mixed together. Yes I understand nature vs nurture and everyone is their own person but these people can teach you so much-- both about this world and yourself.

4. Agree to disagree.

We don't have to win every argument, and most friendship and relationships have more value than being right.

5. Make peace with your past because without it there is no happy ending.

If you have not found peace with your own history then you can never truly be happy. If you are not truly happy then what is the brightest future you could hold anyways?

6. Control your fear and control your worries, they're in your head.

Power forward, stop being afraid of what this world has to offer you. Take it with a grain of salt and capitalize on all opportunities.

7. Grit over gift.

Natural talent will only get you so far. Push yourself and challenge yourself every day. Throw yourself over obstacle and eventually you will be the talented one. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.

8. Let the situations that are out of your control be out of your control.

Stop trying to perfect everything. Sometimes it is not up to you. Sometimes you have to let things pan out. If it is out of your control don't get worked up about it... that's simply life. Let people be who they are and allow them to make their own mistakes, it is not up to you.

9. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.

My entire life my mom has told me this and I cannot stress enough how true this is. We create our own luck, so go out there and go for it.

10. The heart wants what the heart wants.

Sometimes we can't explain what launches us into action. We can't always explain ourselves and sometimes we will be caught kicking ourselves over what we realize it is that we want. The heart wants what the heart wants, don't blame yourself or others for where the heart may want to explore.

11. People mourn in different ways.

Let people be sad. Do not thrust your mourning strategies on others. Let them be sad in their own way and adapt to how you can best help them.

12. It is okay to not know.

Sometimes you aren't going to figure it out. Sometimes you just will not know or understand. That. Is. Okay. Don't dwell, move on.

13. Don't sweat the little things.

Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy,
Lighten up while you still can,
Don't even try to understand,
Just find a place to make your stand, and take it easy.

Big thanks to the Eagles, I knew my parents were trying to teach me something by playing your music on every car ride growing up.

14. Life is ever-changing.

Things will not be like this forever. Life is not stagnant and you have every ability to make changes to better your future. Go out and make those changes don't sit around and wait.

15. Stay humble and kind.

Time McGraw taught me this one... thanks dude. Any who, I digress, there is so much value in being kind to others and staying humble through all of life's adventures. Be an approachable person and people will approach you, it is as simple as that.

16. Patience actually is a virtue.

Life may be short but currently it is the longest thing you have. Take your time. Don't sweat the small stuff. Stay patient.

17. Be yourself.

Literally you are the only person that has the ability to be you so please take advantage of that and make the world everything it can possibly be to you.

18. Focus on finding your happiness.

Everything else will fall into place once you find you’re happy. Stop worrying about everyone else for five second and focus on the fact that life is simply the pursuit of happiness,

19. Remove yourself from your comfort zone.

Do not seclude yourself to living in a box

. "Comfort zone" is just an expression people say to refer to their limits. Don't forget people, we are as limitless as we wish to make ourselves. Take chances, make opportunities. Explore.