On Monday May 30, 2016, it will be my 19th birthday. 19 is typically seen as just another birthday - nothing special happens, you get no new privileges, and you move on. I am refusing to accept this reality. I decided to make this list to show how much I've learned in my nineteen years of living.

1. Be open-minded. Hear other people out. Try new things. Step out of your comfort zone. When you actually listen instead of just hearing, your horizons expand. You can always benefit from learning new perspectives.

2. Forgiveness is important. Even when you're really mad and it feels like you'll never get over what just happened, I promise you, you will. Moving on and forgiving is part of growing as a person. Face it - you care about people too much to stay angry or upset.

3. Love your body. No matter how big, small, wide, thin, muscular, or curvy it is, it is beautiful. Be sure to treat it well - after all, it's the only one you have.

4. Shop online. Everything is cheaper. Textbooks, groceries, clothes, pizza, odds and ends, you name it. Your go-to method should be to buy online. I know shipping & handling always seems like an annoying and unnecessary cost, but you'll probably still save money in the long run. Not only are there promo codes to give discounts on your purchase, but you don't even have to leave your room. Isn't that nice? Yes.

5. Learn to say no. I have a really tough time with this. No matter what people ask me, no matter how inconvenient it is for me, I tend to say yes every time. You're allowed to be selfish. You don't owe everybody the world.

6. Go on adventures. Whether those adventures are cross-state, cross-country, or to Wal-Mart at 11 pm to get cake frosting, go out and make memories with people you love.

7. You'll find out who your real friends are. Not every friend you make stays in your life forever. Time, chance, and loyalty will determine who sticks around until the very end. Yes, it's sad, but everyone must go through it.

8. Be happy by yourself. Before you can be happy in a relationship, you have to be happy alone. Find serenity in solitude and gain independence. Even the people you love can let you down sometimes.

9. Don't let others judge you. At the end of the day, only you have to live with yourself. Make decisions for yourself and not for others.

10. Let your inner child show. Have no shame. Buy that coloring book and watch cartoons. If you want to go on Club Penguin, DO IT! Add me!

11. Have a favorite everything. Favorite bagel flavor, favorite animal, favorite color, favorite day of the week, favorite radio station, favorite brand of nail polish, favorite movie, favorite comedian, favorite place to get ice cream ... the list goes on and on. Favorites give you something to look forward to and something to smile about. (By the way, I chose to put this here because 11 is my favorite number. See what I mean?)

12. Always eat dessert. A sugary treat at the end of a satisfying meal is better than most other things on Earth. Gone are the days in a restaurant when I say "no thank you" to a dessert menu. Don't count your calories, just eat and be happy!

13. Don't let stereotypes guide your judgment of other people. End of story. Next.

14. The sun will rise again. I find that at night, dark emotions can overwhelm you and leave you feeling sad, worried, depressed, anxious, etc. All I have to do is remind myself that the sun will rise again and I will likely feel better in the morning. A new day is always coming, bringing a new chance to start over or make amends.

15. Write thank you cards. It's a small gesture that goes a long way. As my mom always says, "Give without remembering, receive without forgetting."

16. Be nice to wait staff and retail employees. This really should go without saying, but you'd be surprised. Remember, they're people just like you. They have feelings, families, and bills to pay. Use your manners and be courteous.

17. Get a cat. They make the best pets.

18. Do what makes you happy. Don't let other people decide for you or make you feel like you're wrong! If you want to major in culinary photo journalism in college, then you do that! All the power to you.

19. Live with no regrets. Yes, you make mistakes. Everyone does; we're all human after all. But think of it this way: every life decision you've made has led you to this point in your life. And you are exactly where you should be.