Every year of your life you learn something new. Whether it be how to walk and talk at age one or ride your bike at age five, or how to drive a car at sixteen or how to register to vote at eighteen, each day, each month, each year, you learn something new. Obviously, not everything you learn will be as simple and easy as those examples. The first twenty years of your life, you will learn different things about people, the world, life itself, and most importantly things about yourself. Some of these lessons will be hard to swallow, but they will also help you grow as a person. By twenty, you have a semi-grasp on life and you are on the path to becoming 'you'. Here are twenty life lessons that I have learned by the time I was twenty years old.
1. You have a brand new start every single day.
2. If you want to do something, then do it. You don't want to look back on your life and regret not taking a chance.
3. Your experiences shape you into the person you are today. Obstacles and opportunities are put in your life in order to help form you into the person you are supposed to be.
4. Just go with it. If you are like me, you always need a plan in order to function, but you need to remember that it is important to also take a step back every so often in order to breathe. You need to learn that it is okay to let go and trust that everything will work out.
5. Everyone has had a bad day before. You woke up late, or you got into a fight with a friend or you spilled your coffee, can put you in a bad mood. Rather than having those things run your day, you have the power to turn the day around. Don't let the bad points in your day ruin the rest of the day for you.
6. You deserve the best of the best. The respect and love that you show yourself will show others how to treat you.
7. Don't beat yourself up for not knowing something. You did not know and that is okay because you will grow and learn from it.
8. You can't get anywhere if you stop. Keep going and you will eventually reach where you want to go.
9. Respect others' opinions and perspectives. We are all different which makes us have our own point of view. Just because you see it a certain way doesn't mean someone else will see it the same way.
10. Go with your gut. You know the truth deep down, it just may take a little bit of time before you realize it.
11. It is okay to lose yourself. Through it, you will become who you truly are.
12. Aren't happy? Change. I know that in some instances it may be hard to do so, but just remember that it is your life and you have the power to change it at any time.
13. Don't keep giving people attention and love if they are going to take it for granted.
14. Not everyone is going to like you. I know this may be hard to cope with, but it is true. Just remember to be yourself, and do not change for them. It is their loss for not wanting to be friends with someone as amazing as yourself.
15. It is okay to make mistakes. We were not made to say or do the right things all of the time. Be real, not perfect.
16. Pick your friends wisely. Not everyone you come across will stay in your life. Get rid of those who don't inspire, encourage, care or love you.
17. Do what you love to do and the rest of your life will fall into place.
18. Just because no one is watching doesn't mean that you can slack off. You were taught right from wrong when you were a kid, so continue to do the right.
19. Just believe. There could be a million reasons to quit, but there will always be at least one reason to keep on going. That one reason it will work has more power than the million reasons to stop.
20. Love is a funny thing. Love can be painful and confusing, but it can also be wonderful and life changing. Be careful who you choose to love because it is one of the most powerful forces.
