I can’t believe my 20th birthday is less than a couple of months away. It’s bittersweet that I’m finally no longer going to be a “teen,” but at the same time, entering my twenties is slightly scary. Rather than dwelling on it, I decided to embrace it. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately, and here are a few things I’ve learned in the past few years of my life, plus some advice for younger girls:

1. Life is hard and it'll never get easier.

No one has a true grasp on how to live life. It's confusing; it's complicated. Most importantly, you're not the only one who's confused about life. No one really knows what they're doing, but some people just know how to hide it better than others.

2. Do what makes you happy, because you'll get judged no matter what.

People will judge you for everything and anything. Stop trying to please people because in the end, someone will still find something negative. You cannot please everyone, so there's no sense of trying.

3. It's OK to say "no" to things.

Don't feel pressured to say yes to everything. If you don't feel like going out with your friends, it's OK to say "no." You need to look out for yourself and your health before anything else. Don't jeopardize your grades just to have a good time either.

4. Take your health seriously.

Our bodies are unfortunately getting older, and we should begin to have a healthy lifestyle now before it's too late. Your body years in the future will thank you for taking care of yourself. Eat healthier, but it's OK to cheat every once in a while. Exercise, but don't over work yourself. Even if it's just dancing to your favorite music for 30 minutes or weightlifting, it's better to move than to do nothing at all. Take care of your skin. I cannot stress the importance of good skin care. Wear sunscreen. ALWAYS wash your face, no matter how tired you are. The same goes for brushing your teeth. Floss. SLEEP. Take care of yourself.

5. Your heart will get broken many times, but that doesn't mean you're not worthy of love.

So often girls think just because one stupid boy (or girl) broke their heart that they'll never find love or happiness. That's completely wrong. Just because one person didn't see how great you are, does not mean you are not great. You are great, no matter what anyone says.

6. Confidence is extremely important.

You have to be able to prove yourself and stand out, especially in the future when it's time to get a job or start your career. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Take pride in yourself and who you are. Be confident. Be bold.

7. Family is important.

Being away from my family 8 months out of the year truly taught me how much I love them and how much I'd take spending time with them for granted. Life's short, so you should spend it with the people you love and who love you. At the end of the day, your family is who will always be there for you. It's important to be there for them as well. Call your family almost every day, trust me, they'll appreciate it more than you'll know.

8. Family isn't always blood related.

My best friends and family friends are extremely close to me, so much so that they're practically family. They've helped me through so much and done so much for me, so it's only natural to consider them family. Family doesn't have to be genetic, and sometimes you can choose your family.

9. It's important to challenge yourself and push yourself out of your comfort zone.

Experiences I've made from stepping outside what makes me comfortable have changed my life. I've met so many people and done so many amazing things just because I allowed myself to push out of my comfort zone. I moved 600 miles away from my family to a school where I knew absolutely no one and it was one of the best decisions of my life.

10. No one has all of the answers.

No one knows everything. It's OK to question things that you're unsure of. It's OK to question whether or not there is a god. It's OK to challenge your beliefs and what you grew up being taught. Explore new options and ideas and opinions, as they can only strengthen your own thoughts.

11. It's OK to be lost sometimes.

No one has everything figured out. You don't have to know what you want from life at this exact moment. You don't have to plan your whole life out right now. You'll never know what will happen, so embrace it rather than getting hung up on things.

12. Your happiness shouldn't depend on others.

Don’t live to make others happy. Don’t do things just to make other people happy. Don’t sacrifice your happiness for others. Like I said before, do what makes you happy. Don’t let other people influence your moods and your happiness. Don’t let a relationship define your happiness.

13. Independence is key.

It’s important to know how to be independent. People will not always be there to help you, unfortunately. You need to learn to be comfortable being alone at times. Do more things by yourself. It’s OK to sit alone in a restaurant. It’s OK to do things alone. Being independent makes you stronger as a person, it does not make you weak at all!

14. Stressing over small things is silly.

I know this all too well. I often find myself stressing over little unimportant things, which isn't healthy. Try to remind yourself that it doesn't matter and everything will hopefully turn out great in the end. Even if it doesn't, that's OK.

15. It's OK to make mistakes.

Not everything is going to work out. You’re not perfect; no one is. You’re going to make mistakes, probably a lot of them. Embrace them rather than letting them define you. Accept responsibility, learn from them, and then move on. There’s no greater regret then dwelling on mistakes or not learning from them.

16. You're going to hit rough patches, and it's how you overcome them that defines you.

When faced with a difficult situation, you’re going to feel scared and helpless at first. Think about your choices before making them. Eventually you’ll look back on rough patches and think of them only as small bumps in the road. They may seem or be major now, but I promise, it won’t always be that way.

17. When it comes down to it, the only person who has control over you is you.

You have the power to influence your future. You are the person who is going to get you to where you want to be; no one else has that power. Do not let others try to control you or tell you what to do. People who try to control you and your actions do not belong in your life. Period.

18. You are unique, so embrace it.

No one is going to be exactly like you and you shouldn't strive to be exactly like anyone else. Embrace your uniqueness and your quirks. Not only is it OK to be different, but it's best to be different. Why blend in with everyone else when you were born to stand out?

19. Chase your dreams, no matter how ridiculous they may seem.

Set goals for yourself. They're great motivators to get you where you want to be in life. Do what you want to do. If you want to travel the world someday, do it. Don't let people tell you that you can't do something.

20. Don't wait around for the "right time."

There's no better time than the present. Don’t make excuses and push things back. If you keep waiting for the “right time,” you’ll eventually run out of time. Don’t wait. Do things in the moment. Be impulsive, but make smart decisions.

I asked important and much wiser woman for advice they had for people who are nearing their 20s and/or things they wish they'd done differently in their 20s. Here's what they had to say:

“You are the only person who can take charge of your future career, and it's up to you to choose wisely. Make sure that you do something that you are passionate about, and that provides the right amount of intellectual & social stimulation for you! And don't worry if you get stuck in a job that doesn't turn out to be all it's supposed to be---you can always find another job that more closely matches your career goals.” –Kathy, 58

“Travel! When I was 20 I studied abroad in Ireland and had one of the best experiences of my life. I traveled throughout Ireland and also went to Scotland, England, Italy, and Vatican City. There are great programs out there that you should really look into. I promise you won't regret going! It will be one of your greatest adventures...although you still will get homesick, occasionally!” –Kasey, 34

"I wish I enjoyed my 20's more! I regret wanting to grow up so fast in my 20's. I rarely enjoyed the moment because I was career focused, relationship focused, and future focused. If I could go back, I would have seized the day a little more. You are only young once! I would have partied more, traveled more, and enjoyed myself more! I also wish I was more confident and secure with myself then. If I had my attitude now, I would have been so much happier." -Sheri, 42

"It's easy to be selfish when you are late teens early twenties, but the more selfless you are the happier you will be." -Rachel, 42

“Starting your 20's is the beginning of adulthood, but not a lot of life experience of your own. Discovering who you are and why takes a while. First piece of advice I would give myself is not to be too quick to judge. That one’s difficult, but you're able to see that clearer when life changes and your experiences will force you to see things differently. Expose yourself to different cultures, travel, know that this is just the beginning of self-discovery. Don't worry what other people think or let that define you. Allow yourself to take risks challenge yourself and don't beat yourself up. It goes by really fast... I'm still working on these things and learning all the time. And it doesn't get simpler I'm afraid. Don't be afraid to ask for help there is a lot of wisdom from a lot of resources. Good luck! And wear sunscreen” –Michele, 44

“Always make time for your family and for your girlfriends. That is something I learned recently and wish I would have done more when I was younger. Don’t grow up too fast. Enjoy being young. Get into a little bit of trouble. You will literally have the rest of your life to be an adult and have adult responsibilities.” –Tina, 42

“If I could go back to being 20, I would be less worried about dating and more concerned about finding my independence. I would live in a big city and try to base my life decisions more on what was currently happening rather than wishful thinking about the future. Thoughts about a future life impacted my present life and in some ways I missed out on enjoying that young independence that comes in our twenties. Plan for the rainy day and be open to what may be but truly embrace the sunny days of youth and freedom.” –Tina, 49

“Communicate by calling, not text. Do not stop learning. Spend time with your family. Workout. Use aging products early even though you don't have any wrinkles. Travel. Take more risks. Don't marry because you feel you should marry in your early 20s. Mr. Right will come. Do not give up friends when dating. They will be there for you the rest of your life and need girlfriend time. Time flies. If you want to avoid the feeling of regret in the future, live now!” –Donna, 41

“I would tell anyone turning 20 to be confident in who they are and who they want to be and become. To not care what society or others think, but of what you think of yourself. Also to not be lazy, and to take chances to better your future. Failure happens, but it’s what you learn from and do with it that matters.” –Kacey, 22

“My biggest thing was probably to not let myself feel so awkward around my peers and to not worry about what other people think.” –Kelly, 48

“The advice I would give to 20 year olds is also the advice I wish I was given. You are currently in 'limbo.' Too young and inexperienced to be an adult, but, unfortunately, you are too old and mature to be a kid. Your friends see you one way, your family sees you another way, and you see yourself in a different light too. You are learning how to keep moving in the right direction as your family is learning how to let you do it. It is kind of like a tug of war game. The flag in the middle goes back and forth. You will eventually get the flag on your side but in the meanwhile there is a lot of movement. That is ok. There will be days you are confident in your independence and others where you want to lay on the couch while your mom makes your favorite comfort food for you. It is all good and how it goes. Just remember we all need to understand that this "unsettled" time is a journey, not a race!” –Eileen

Thankfully, I have all of this great advice and insight from all of these amazing women in my life! I think I'm prepared for this next milestone and can't wait to see where life takes me. Hopefully you'll use some of this advice in the future.