On March 2, I turned 20 years old and during all of these years I learned quite a few things about myself, others and even the world.
Here's 20 things I've learned in 20 years
1. Failing is okay, as long as you learn from your mistakes.
I'm honestly not afraid to say I've failed. A lot. I've failed but I've learned from it. No human is perfect. Sometimes to learn a lesson, you might fail. That's okay though. You're only human.
2. Have a safe place.
If you think your world is overwhelming and you want to destress, find a safe haven. Whether its an imaginary place, a physical place or both, have somewhere where you can escape mentally or physically. The world can get pretty chaotic, but if you have a safe place then you'll be okay.
3. Have a reason to keep going.
The world can push you down, but find a reason to get back up again. Even if it's a simple reason as ' I have to be alive to get a package that I ordered' or 'If I leave, then no one will feed my fish'. It could also be something as complex as 'I want to share my story to inspire people' or ' I want to travel the world'. Just have a reason, because the world is a better place with you in it.
4. Go on adventures/ Do things that scare you
Sometimes the most spontaneous adventures will give you some of the best memories. Do things that you wouldn't normally do. I'm not saying risk your life, but do something that scares you. That makes you nervous because you will probably look back with a smile. You will also learn the most out of your comfort zone.
5. Be curious.
Always ask questions.
6. Your parents are right 99.9% of the time.
You might not always agree with what your parents tell you but they're always right when it comes to finances, relationships, and life.They really do have your best interests at heart.
7. Celebrate the little things.
If it's raining outside, go dance in it. If it's snowing, put on a snow jacket and build a snowman. If it's nice outside, go for a walk. Celebrate life's little pleasures because you'll look back and regret not enjoying them when you had the chance.
8. Do everything with kindness.
Always be kind. You never know what someone is going through and you might make someone's day. Send a random text to someone you care about, make a collage to cheer someone up, or buy someone their favorite candy. Try your best every day to make someone's day even better, and to make them smile. Trust me you will love who you become.
9. Be Passionate.
Find something that excites you, that you can talk about for hours without getting bored. You could be passionate about almost anything but never lose that passion. Having a passion for or towards something makes life worth it.
10. Embrace your inner child.
I can honestly say that I can be a complete child sometimes. That's not always a bad thing. Never lose your excitement for new things. Let's be honest though, everything was better when we did not have a care in the world. Who ever says we have to grow up?
11. Say 'I love you' more.
In today's society, we don't appreciate people as much as we should. We assume that they already know they're loved and we shouldn't have to say it to them. The truth is, you should still say it. Say it to your parents, your roommate, or a close friend. You should let people know how much you care and appreciate them. Sometimes even saying 'I love you' might make someone's day better.
12. Time does heal.
It sounds cheesy but it works. From personal experience, I've learned that how sad you are feeling right now will never last. The feeling of heartbreak will subside and you will learn to love again. The pain you are experiencing now will eventually fade. Trust me, the rain will never last and the sun will always come again. Tomorrow is always another day and you should be alive to see it.
13. When in doubt, dance it out.
Growing up in a totally greek family, I learned that dancing will solve 90% of your problems.
14. Your group of friends may change throughout your life, and that's OK.
We all change throughout our lives, and we can't control that. Your childhood best friend might not be not your best friend today and that's okay. I honestly don't have the same friend group that I had when I was in grade school but thats okay. I've made new friends and reconnected with old ones. People fade in and out of our lives, but true friends will always stay.
15. Not everyone is going to like you, that's OK too.
You can't please everyone. I've had periods in my life where I had so much anxiety over people not liking me. I wanted to impress them and make them like me. I eventually learned that some people are just never going to like you. It's okay though. If people truly like you, you don't have to impress them. The people that truly matter will always stay in your life.
16. Stop saying sorry.
I have a problem with apologizing. A lot. Even for things that are not my fault. Most times things are not your fault, and there is nothing to apologize for. You can't prevent some things from happening. Just because you can't do something at a certain time does not mean it's not necessarily your fault.
17. Don't avoid confrontation.
No matter how hard it is, confrontation is inevitable. The longer you wait to talk to a person about a problem, the worse it will be.
18. Take as many pictures as you can.
I am absolutely not ashamed to be known as the photographer in my group of friends. I love pictures and capturing the moment. Take pictures, so that you can look back with a smile. Take pictures so that you can remember how happy you were at a certain moment.
19. Learn when to say no.
I can't say no. It's extremely hard for me to say no to someone. I've learned that you shouldn't have to please everyone. If you're uncomfortable with something, you can say no. You're allowed to without feeling guilty.
20. Be silly.
You only live once. Laugh when you can and be silly. There's no reason to be serious all the time.
The last thing I've learned is I still have a lot to learn.
