Yesterday was my 20th birthday. I was inspired to write this article after watching Jenna Marbles' videos over the past few years. During her birthday week, she uploads a video about what she's learned in her life. Without further ado: here are 20 things I've learned in 20 years.
1. Don’t be afraid to be your own person. You don't have to always fit in the little box society has told you to.
2. Alcohol is never the answer, seriously. You may be sad over your breakup but don't get plastered because of it.
3. Go out with your friends after a long shift at work. Have fun, but get home at a decent time so you can still go to work the next day.
4. Only keep people around you that make you a better person. You'll come across toxic people in your life and you have to realize who they are and how to extract yourself from them.
5. Even if you aren't happy with they way you look, fake it. Fake confidence, it's how I gained all my confidence.
6. Memorize the way your childhood bedroom looks before you move out. Most parents aren't going to keep it exactly the same as you left it. You'll want to remember it when you're older.
7. Try to eat healthily. I know how cheap and easy fast food is, but it takes a toll on your body and your skin.
8. On that note, take care of your skin. Wash your face often, and try to prevent breakouts.
9. If a person you're dating in treats you like crap, leave. If they only call you at midnight wanting to hookup, block them. Don't waste your time on people like that. When you get married to the love of your life, you'll laugh about all those insignificant people with your partner.
10. Do not make a big life decision based on someone else. They aren't always guaranteed to stick around.
11. Date someone with a different music taste than you. Whether it's 80s music or country music, you'll learn to appreciate their taste and you may even find a new song you love.
12. It's OK to be sad and cry on the bedroom floor for a little bit. Sometimes it's necessary, but you have to make sure that after 24 hours you get up and you move on with life.
13. If you love someone, tell them. You'll never know when the last time that you'll see them will be.
14. Always go above and beyond in everything you do. Good karma will come back around.
15. Don't be afraid to try new things. Start small by trying a different dish at your favorite restaurant. Eventually, you'll find yourself never doing the same thing twice.
16. TRAVEL. Go anywhere you can afford, even if you have to go by yourself. The experience you'll gain from it will be worth all the anxiety of being alone.
17. You will make mistakes. Everyone does. Realize this and make sure you own up to them. You'll gain more respect that way.
18. Always remember to focus on the positives, not the negatives. Force yourself to think of one good thing that came out of a bad situation. Eventually, you'll find yourself doing it naturally.
19. You matter. You are important. Don’t ever forget that, and never let anyone tell you different.
20. People will break your heart. It may be family and it may be friends, or it may be a partner. In a year from now, they won't matter and you will have moved on. It won't seem like it in the moment, but you have to realize that. I like to remember my favorite song lyric by Neck Deep: "I've been moving mountains that I once had to climb."
