Today, September 4th, is my nineteenth birthday. It is also Beyoncé’s birthday, so happy birthday to the Queen. Besides being a few pounds heavier from all of the cupcakes I’ve eaten this weekend, I now understand why people say that 19 is an irrelevant age. 19 is like having something on the tip of your tongue and being so close yet so far, that space between 18 and 21 where you don’t get to do anything new (legally) just because you’re growing up a little more. And although I’m far from being able to provide any wisdom to anyone in my 19th year of life, here are a few things I’ve learned trying to hit 10,000 steps everyday for nineteen years.
1. I am actually pretty independent.
“Mom can you pick me up? I’m scared.”
2. I’m a people pleaser.
I want to be friends with everyone and don’t understand why that isn’t always possible. But I thrive on other people’s happiness.
3. I’m really bad at being in a bad mood.
Seriously though, if I’m in a bad mood I like to think it’s for good reason. Bad moods are a waste of my time, and so are people who are always in them. Glass half full means more wine, people.
4. I have too many aspirations.
I have been in college for over a year now and have changed my major five times. Still essentially undeclared and undecided; today a marketing major, tomorrow a physical therapist.
5. I am the difficult child.
Hey mom! I know you’re probably reading this and thrilled the house is so quiet without me but I do miss stomping around the floor trying to wake up dad at all hours of the night.
6. I love to travel.
There is so much more to the world than the one you live in. I am so obsessed with the idea of being able to immerse myself in different cultures and meet people from all different walks of life.
7. I love people.
Like I said before, I am a people pleaser. But most of all, I love getting to know people on more than just a surface level. I can’t sit in my room for more than five minutes on my own
8. I don’t do well on my own.
If you come to hang out with me you simply cannot expect to leave for at least three hours.
9. People have bigger problems than I do.
My friends hear me say it all the time; people have bigger problems than I do. I like to think that no matter the size of the funk I’m in, someone is in a bigger one. Think this way, it really may help keep you grounded.
10. Some things are meant to be taken a day at a time.
In college, it’s easy to get caught up in a million things and not realize it. When you do realize it, these things can become very overwhelming. It’s important to realize you can’t accomplish everything all at once; some things really do take time.
11. It’s important to do things that scare you.
Stepping out of your comfort zone is not only fun, but also important. If you never step outside your little box of comfort, you are really missing out.
12. Take time for yourself.
It may be a little bit nosy, but I like to be involved in everything. I get bored easily when I'm alone so I always try to occupy myself to the greatest extent possible. However, it’s easy for me to get caught up in all the action and I need to remember that sometimes I just need some time to relax.
13. Grades do not define you.
You hear it all the time, but there is so much more to a person than their SAT scores and GPA. Sometimes the people who know the most aren’t the ones who took the toughest classes.
14. You look better when you smile!
Cheesy!!!! I know!!!! But its true, everyone looks better when they’re happy. I may be part hippie, but happy people everywhere would be really cool. I just like to smile, smiling’s my favorite.
15. Cherish your people.
Because they are really the ones who keep you trekking along everyday. I love mine and I know I wouldn’t be who I am today without them. Thanks mom and dad!
16. It’s hard sharing a birthday with Beyoncé.
Everyone wants to celebrate the queen. Even I want to celebrate the queen, and it’s my birthday too. Beyoncé is always welcome to come over for cake though, hoping she knows.
17. I have self diagnosed OCD.
My life for the next year is basically planned out in my calendar, and if I don’t like how it looks written down, it gets written again.
18. I have an extreme love hate relationship with technology.
I love my Apple products until they go rotten and crash.
19. Life is really amazing!!
If you actually sit down and think about it, life is really cool. In my nineteen years I’d like to think I’ve done some pretty cool things and I look forward to eating more Bojangles and traveling from my bed to my refrigerator in the years to come. Hoping next year I’ll have another thing I’ve learned to add to this list at the less exciting and a little bit scary age of 20. Cheers to irrelevance!
