As soon as the summer is over, I'll be turning 20. Over the past year, or so, I feel like I've learned a lot; not only about life, but about myself. Here are 20 things I learned before 20. I hope that if you haven't learned them, yet, you'll take my advice and listen now.
1. Sing all the time.
Everywhere you are. On key, or off key. In the shower, in the car with your friends, or even by yourself. "Singing is breathing for the soul."
2. Smile at everyone.
It doesn't matter if it's a stranger, a friend or even someone you don't like. It's even okay to smile at yourself. Plus, it uses less muscles than frowning!
3. Be friends with everybody.
In all honestly, there is no point not being friends with someone. We are each fighting our own battles. Don't make someone else's harder. I'm not saying everyone has to be your best friend, but we all should be friendly and nice to each other. Didn't "The Breakfast Club" teach us that?
4. Take selfies.
Remember the good times and the bad times. There's only one you, so take as many pictures of yourself as you want. Even if you don't post them, we will all want to feel beautiful and good about ourselves, sometimes.
5. Love yourself.
Every inch of yourself. You are beautiful/handsome inside and out. Stop talking negatively about yourself. You're absolutely amazing.
6. Respect your parents.
They love you and only want the best for you. Their rules are for your protection, not your restriction. A good relationship with your parents is one of the most important things you can have. They'd do anything for you.
7. Give not of your money, but of your time and of your heart.
Serve others. When you give, you truly receive so much more than the person that you are serving.
8. Be fierce.
Do not let others step on you. Hold your ground. Don't change your views because of another person. What you believe and hold dear is important. Believe that.
9. Be open to change.
It's inevitable. The best thing to do is welcome it with open arms and not resist it. Change isn't always a bad thing. We just have to find the good things in it. We have to realize we can't change the past, but we can affect how the future turns out.
10. Keep a journal.
Take time to write down your feelings. Write down your hopes and dreams. One day, you will be able to go back and read about your life. One day, your kids will be able to read about what was happening in your life. Journals allow you to release whatever may be on your shoulders and spill it out onto the pages.
11. Write letters.
I'm not talking about emails, texts or Facebook messages. Write a real, handwritten letter. Like the ones you have to put a stamp on and put in your mailbox. Who doesn't love getting a handwritten letter?
12. Stop caring what others think.
It doesn't matter how you dress, how you talk, or what kinds of music you listen to. It doesn't matter if you're in sorority A, or fraternity B. You are awesome just the way you are. If your friends are looking for you to change that, then they're not really your friends. What's most important is that you are able to be yourself.
13. Sleep is important.
I'm terrible at staying up all hours of the night, but I have found, lately, that sleep is really important. If I don't sleep enough I get grumpy, and I get physically sick. It comes down to, is what I'm doing really important enough to feel like crap tomorrow? If you don't sleep, this will be you in the morning.
14. Education must come first.
Going to school is the most important thing I am doing with my life, right now. I am not only paying for that education, but it is helping me to prepare for a career I plan on fulfilling for the rest of my life.
15. Put the technology down and make every moment count.
When you're spending time with the people you care about, whether it be your friends, your family, or a loved one, put the phone down. I promise that Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter will still be there at the end of the day. It can wait. Promise.
16. Eat healthy and exercise.
Not only will you look better, but you'll mentally and physically feel better, too. I know that when life gets stressful, you want to go for that pint of chocolate ice cream, but if you want something sweet, go for the fruit instead. Just think, when you're out there exercising, you're ahead of everyone still on the couch.
17. Don't be afraid to still be a kid.
Of course, by this I mean act mature, but don't be afraid to play on the playground swings, or go to Build-A-Bear with your boyfriend. Life is too short to be so serious all of the time.
18. Find friends who will be there for you no matter what.
Life is also too short to have friends who don't care about you. Stop hanging with people who wouldn't be there for you at 3 a.m. when something is going on. Stop having friends you know talk about you behind your back. We need to have good friends; ones who will be lifelong friends.
19. There are more important things than being tan.
Ladies, stop going to the tanning bed. It's so bad for you. By going to the tanning bed, you are putting yourself at such a high risk for skin cancer. I am almost as fair as fair can be, but I'd rather be pale and healthy than look like tanned leather.
20. Stop stressing so much!
Life is fun. Life is full of amazing opportunities. You have the world at your fingertips. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Hakuna Matata, baby!
