As you're reading this, I'm celebrating my 22 birthday! Turning 22 isn't, by any means, one of the exciting birthdays. It follows up your 21st, and the only Instagram caption that's available to use is that one Taylor Swift lyrics (you know the one I'm talking about).
Despite it not being a big birthday, it still marks another year of life, and of lessons learned, and that's what this article is all about. So here are 22 of the life lessons I've learned in 22 years.
1. Dedicate at least one hour a day to a creative hobby.
Whether you're painting, writing a novel, or journaling, it's good to get your creative juices flowing. Always try to give yourself that one hour break to do something you love; it feels good to create and express yourself.
2. Buy a planner.
This is something I learned in college. If you're like me, you like to plan out your week so you can see what personal projects you're wanting to do, and any deadlines you may have. And, if you don't want to buy a planner, you can just use your laptop or your phone! You really have no excuse to not use one.
3. Say "yes" more.
When something comes up that would bring you out of your comfort zone, say "yes"! Try to push yourself, whether you do it in big leaps or tiny steps. It's always fun to try out new things, and worse case scenario, you never do it again!
4. Say "no" more.
On the flip side, don't be scared to say "no" if you don't want to be a part of a situation. I'm always hesitant to say "no" because I didn't want anyone to get upset. Over this past year, though, I've come to realize that the people who get mad at me for politely declining are probably not people I want to hang out with.
5. Only hold a grudge if it's well worth it.
This one is super important. You always hear people say to let things go, but I'm telling you this instead: pick and choose what makes you mad.
Grudges are just as harmful to you, so you really have to think about whether or not a situation is worth the permanent anger.
6. Have pets.
Being a pet owner just makes you a better person. Having a pet unlocks this new kind of love that you didn't even know existed. You go from thinking "oh, that person treats their pet like a baby" to referring to your pet only as your "child." Plus, taking care of pets is equal parts rewarding and challenging, so it really holds you accountable and forces you to be responsible.
7. Eat 80% clean.
I know what you're thinking: why is this on the list? As someone whose eating McDonalds while writing this, I understand where you're coming from, but food really does affect your mood, mental, and physical health.
By eating 80% clean, you're giving your body the chance to be healthy, while also allowing you the chance to say yes to some milkshakes every once in a while.
8. Read books.
This is something that I can't stress enough.
Whether you read manga, listen to audiobooks, or devour full-blown tomes, reading is a great way to get smarter and be entertained at the same time. You'll learn new words, you'll read books that possibly challenge your beliefs and way of thinking, and you'll find characters that you just end up loving.
9. If you fail your driver's test, that's okay.
I waited until I was 21 to get my driver's license, and when it finally came time to drive, I worried myself way too much about failing the driving test. In the last decade of my life, this has genuinely been one of the biggest stressors I've faced.
If you fail, that's okay...but pro tip: go back to the same DMV every time, so you can memorize the route they take you on.
10. You are who you are, and you can't change that. So don't try.
This one seems cliche, but after talking to my Papa about lessons he's learned and hearing him say this, I feel like it's genuinely an important one.
Yes, you're going to change as you grow older, but at the end of the day, who you are at your core is who you're going to be forever. So own it, and don't live your life trying to be someone else. If you do, you'll end up feeling fake, and it trust me: it's not worth it.
11. Find a routine.
I basically run off of routines, so this is important for me to mention. I know a ton of people who fly by the seat of their pants, but having a routine just makes the day go by so much easier.
12. Never be afraid to ask for help.
This is something I struggled with for years, and learned while working my first restaurant job. Nobody will be annoyed with you for asking, and if they are, then they clearly have their own things they need to work through.
13. Don't let other people's crazy make you crazy.
This is something that my Papa John said to me passively in the car one time, and ever since then, I have repeated it to myself constantly. Not a day goes by where I don't have to tell myself this when I've got road rage, or I'm stuck in line at Target. Don't let other people's problems cause problems for you.
14. What you put in is what you put out.
I mean this in every way possible: what you eat, what you read, what you think, what you listen to...all of it can and will affect the way you act.
15. Mental health is NOT a joke.
I repeat: NOT A JOKE!
Mental health can affect every aspect of your day, so you need to take care of yourself when you're feeling out-of-sorts.
16. Assume things are going to be harder than they actually are.
This is a lesson that I had to remind myself of pretty recently, but that I first learned my freshman year of college. If you always assume something is going to be more difficult than it inevitably is, then you're going to go into it more prepared, and come out of it feeling much better.
17. Stand up for yourself when you know you're right.
Nothing is more irksome than being told you're wrong when you're actually right. For this reason, I say: don't let someone tell you that you're wrong when you know that you're right.
18. It's okay to be wrong.
It's just like Hannah Montana said: "Everybody makes mistakes."
Don't beat yourself up too much over a circumstance where you're wrong. It happens to all of us in one way or another.
19. Spend as much time with your family as you can.
If you're close with your family, try to make the most of every second you have with them: laugh at stupid jokes until your sides hurt, go out to eat your favorite food, or start a board game tournament (that last one is a personal fave).
If you're not close with your family, then try to mend those relationships. Obviously, don't put yourself in a situation that's harmful to you, but I think that making any amount of effort will make you feel better in the long run.
20. It takes a friend to be a friend.
I'm sure you've heard the saying "it's a two way street," and this is basically the same sentiment. I learned in high school that people are so quick to blame a crumbling relationship on the other person when, in reality, having a good friend is a direct response of being a good friend.
21. Good grammar is important.
This is something I learned as a child, every time my mom scolded me for saying that I was "done" with something. She would always say, "you're not in the oven," and ever since then, I have learned how genuinely important grammar is.
Having good grammar can affect your chances of getting the job you want, your communication skills, and how other people perceive you.
22. Know your worth.
In this world where people are constantly shamed, it's important to know when criticism is helpful, and when it's not. Knowing your worth makes all the difference; I learned this in college, after years of being conscious in high school.
These aren't, by any means, all of the things I've learned in my entire lifetime, but they are certainly ones that I think everybody should take to heart.
