Welcome to your twentieth birthday: a day of celebration, shock that you made it this far, and the sudden realization that you are now officially an adult. Just because we are no longer teenagers does not mean that we know everything quite yet. In fact there is still much to learn. Here are twenty things that I've learned about life leading up to my twentieth birthday.
1. Let your yes be "yes" and your no be "no"
I don't mean just when it comes to relationship and your personal boundaries. Let this be true for every choice in your life! Why say "maybe" when you want to say "no"?
2. Nobody is as perfect as they may appear online
Just because someone may have be epitome of #goals on their Instagram, doesn't mean that every aspect of their live if going perfectly.
3. It is okay to not know what you want to do with your life yet!
Let that really sink in. It's true. "What do you want to be when you grow up" doesn't have to stop being a question at twenty. Who says you can't be fifty and still growing up?
4. Take care of your body
Do not abuse it whether that means mentally, emotionally, or physically. You are worth it more than that.
5. Confidence is sexy
You cannot truly love someone until you love yourself.
6. Don't be afraid to try new things
7. Save your money
8. People may not like you, and that is okay
It could be jealously, or it could be because you were wearing a purple shirt and they hate the color purple. Don't sweat it!
9. High school isn't all of your life
In the grand scheme, and even since being in college for two years, high school is such an insignificant blip in our lives. So enjoy it, but it's not the end of the world if you don't have a date to prom all four years.
10. Friends will change
Sometimes life happens, and friendships will change. That does not mean that it wasn't good while it lasted, but you are not meant to be best friends forever or soulmates with every single person you encounter.
11. You have the power to make a change in your life, only if you want to
12. Stop those negative thoughts
Nothing positive has ever come from a negative thought.
13. It is okay to change your mind
Leave that relationship, switch out of that class, order a different meal, or quit that horrible job!
14. Buy a planner
... and actually use it
15. Travel
16. DO NOT SETTLE
17. Don't take the little things for granted
18. Put the phone down sometimes
Enjoy the moment without thinking about how many likes on Instagram you're getting