In honor of my recent 21st birthday celebration, I decided to write a list of life lessons I've learned during my life so far. Life is a never-ending journey, not a destination. As humans, we are always in the process of figuring out some aspect of life's complications. We are always learning about ourselves, other people, how the world works, and the list goes on. Here are 21 lessons I've learned during my 21 years of life:
1. You can't make people love you, so be yourself.
2. Sleep is not for the weak. Get at least seven-to-eight hours of sleep every night so that you'll be more productive during the day.
3. Count your memories, not possessions.
4. Stop comparing yourself to others.
5. Let go of what you can't control.
6. Cut toxic people out of your life.
7. Live in the moment. Do not dwell on the past, and do not worry too much about the future.
8. If you get the opportunity to gain new experiences, say yes. However, understand that it's always okay to say no to something that you're not comfortable with.
9. Never wait until you're down to your last pair of clean socks and underwear to do laundry.
10. Your grades do not measure your overall intelligence.
11. What you think of yourself is more important than what others think of you.
12. If you cannot understand someone, accept them for who they are.
13. Letting go of people does not mean that you no longer care about them. It does not mean that you no longer love them. You can always love people, even if it means loving them from afar.
14. If someone truly matters to you, tell them that you appreciate them.
15. Perfect timing does not exist because perfection does not exist.
16. It's okay to be vulnerable, confused, and not know what you want at any given point of your life.
17. A true friend is someone who will stand by you through your hardships. Everyone else is just an acquaintance.
18. Being beautiful is not about your physical appearance, but about how you choose to embrace who you are and how you respect others.
19. Do not judge people based on social media. You do not know anything about them, what their life is like, or the characteristics and life events that have shaped them into who they are. Social media is not an accurate representation of an individual's overall lifestyle or who they are as individuals.
20. Love is not just limited to romantic relationships. You can find love anywhere you desire, whether it be your friends, family, pets, hobbies, etc.
21. Your relationship status says nothing about you. Being single does not make you a devil, and being in a relationship does not make you a saint.
