Entering your 20's is a big deal, but it's an awkward age. You're no longer a child or in your teens, but you're also not seen as a full-grown adult yet. You can't legally drink, your car insurance is still high because you're a risk, and your parents and other influential adults in your life still see you as the child you once were. However, you see yourself as a mature, young adult who is ready to take on the world. As I've transitioned from my teen years into my 20s, I've taken some time to reflect on some things I've learned in my two decades:
1. Look for something positive in each day.
Growing up, at the end of every day, I was always told to think of three good things that happened that day. This outlook made me appreciate the positive and ignore the negative parts of my day.
2. You only live once.
As overrated as "YOLO" is, the concept is still true. Live every single day to its fullest and as if it was going to be your last one here on Earth.
3. Get out of your comfort zone.
Living in your comfort zone will get you nowhere. Take risks, you won't regret them.
4. Making memories is really important.
Getting the best grade on a test, sleeping in an extra hour, or going to the gym aren't that important in the long-run. Do things that are worth remembering. Spend time with your friends and family and make memories that you can tell your children and grandchildren some day.
5. Family always comes first.
No matter what. Everyone else will most likely come and go, but your family are your roots. Stay true to them.
6. Always be true to yourself.
Never go against your morals. Being authentic and true to yourself makes you unique and someone other people will get want to get to know and love.
7. It's okay to be selfish sometimes.
Do what makes you happy, even if it means upsetting other people. You always have to look out for yourself, because other people aren't going to. If you're not happy, it's going to be a lot harder to make anyone else happy.
8. You have to love yourself before you can love others.
It's incredibly hard to love others when you don't love yourself first. Learning to love yourself for everything you are will allow you to open up and accept and love the people around you. It will also open you up to allow other people to love you.
9. Live in the present.
As an anxious person, I've always worried about the future. Once I learned to live in the moment and take each day as it came, I became a much happier person.
10. Others' opinions are not important.
It really only matters what you think. Have that extra dessert, go to that art school that you've always dreamed of, or skip the gym that day. If that decision makes you happy, that's all that matters, despite what other people have to say about it.
11. You can start over whenever you want.
Screw New Years resolutions, you can start over whenever you want. You can start being healthier today, change up your look tomorrow, or become a whole new person next week. You can start over whenever you feel it's necessary.
12. Labels don't matter.
Slut, prude, jock, nerd, partier, whatever. These labels are only how other people see you, and they only "define" you for a few years. They don't say anything about your character, morals, or values, and in all honesty, those are the only qualities that matter.
13. Set big goals.
Small goals are only temporary and easy to forget about. Make big short-term and long-term goals and do everything in your power to achieve them.
14. A good attitude is really important.
Having a positive attitude each day is crucial. It can affect how people see you, how your day is going to go, and how you see yourself. Be a positive and uplifting person, rather than a complaining, whiny person with a bad attitude. People will like you a lot more, and you'll like yourself a lot more.
15. Focus on your mental health.
A lot of people overlook mental health issues. If you're having an "off" day, don't feel guilty about skipping class, staying in, or doing what it takes to get your mindset from bad to good again. Mental health is just as important as physical health.
16. Be a good person.
"It's free to be nice" is what I've always been told. There's no reason to be mean or cruel to others. Be a good person. Not only will others like you more for it, you'll like yourself more, too.
17. "The quieter you become, the more you can hear."
You don't always have to be the loudest in the room while making your opinions and comments known. Being quiet and absorbing what others have to say can broaden your own knowledge and opinions.
18. It's okay to make mistakes.
Failure is the only way to success. Everybody makes mistakes and it's okay to do so. They teach you what not to do and help you to do the right thing next time.
19. Rejection isn't the end of the world.
Whether it's a breakup or not getting a job, rejection, like mistakes, is an important building block to success.
20. Do what makes you happy.
The overarching theme here is happiness. Your happiness is so important and it's not wrong to do whatever it takes to make you happy.
These are some valuable life lessons that I've learned in my 20 years. Through my experiences, family, and friends, I've become the person who I am today, and I'm very proud of that.
