In 20 years, you learn a lot of really important lessons. These are the most important things I have learned that I feel have really changed my life. I hope you enjoy!
1. Not Everyone Will Like You.
I have spent too much time trying to make people like me. In reality, not everyone is the same. People have different interests, hobbies and personality traits. Everyone is different and you can’t get along with everyone. That doesn’t mean don’t try to be nice, but certainly don’t change yourself to make someone else like you.
2. You Will Never Make Everyone Happy.
You can try and try but at the end of the day, you can’t please everyone. There will always be someone who doesn’t approve or like what you’re doing. Stop trying to the impossible and you just it everything you’ve got. If someone isn’t happy with what you have put forward, let him or her change it.
3. Don't Apologize For How You Feel.
I personally apologize for everything. If someone hurt my feelings and I get mad, the first thing I do is apologize. Don’t do that! It’s stupid! Your feelings are valid. You deserve to be heard. That doesn’t mean take a bat to your boyfriend’s car every time he makes you mad. It does mean that you deserve to have your feelings heard. Don’t apologize for them anymore.
4. When You Find Someone Good, Hold On To Them.
Great people are hard to find. I have been fortunate enough to find a few people who are trustworthy, kind, generous and encourage me to be the best version of myself I can be. When you find someone like this, don’t let them go. They are extremely hard to come by.
5. Don't Let Anyone Tell You How to Live Your Life.
I don’t care who it is; don’t let anyone tell you how to live your life. I’m sick of seeing people do things they don’t want to do for other people. Who cares that mean girl thinks your hair is ugly? Who cares if your mom says you wear too much makeup (shout out to my mom, I still love you girl)? Life is too short to not do what you want to do. Do what makes you happy because one day, you will look back on your life and you don’t want to have regrets.
6. Always Tell The Truth.
I know this seems a little first grade. But, it’s true. Sometimes people lie because they don’t want to hurt people. But lying hurts more. The person you are lying to will always find out and it will hurt them more than the truth would have. Also, lying is so toxic for you too. Why do you want all that negative energy? Bite the bullet and tell the truth.
7. It's OK To Be Different.
For a very long time, I tried to hard to be like everyone else. A lot of people do that. And that’s crazy when you really think about it. There is not a cookie cutter for making people. Everyone has quirks. You don’t have to fill a mold and be a “girly-girl” or a “jock” or a “nerd.” Just be you, and find people who make you feel good. Dare to be different. Stand out. Don’t try to fit into a mold.
8. Never Play Dumb.
I’m so sick of people playing dumb. I know too many girls who act stupid to get a guy’s attention. I’m gonna keep this one short. Do you really want a guy who wants a stupid girl? No.
9. Sometimes Your Best Isn't Good Enough, And That's OK.
This may hurt but, despite what we all learned as children, your best is not always good enough. We are all told “just do your best.” And yes, we should. Always give 100 percent. But sometimes, it’s still not good enough. That is OK. That’s why we aren’t in this crazy game of life by ourselves. That leads me to our next point…
10. Everyone Needs Help.
This is something I should probably get tattooed on my brain. I have the hardest time asking people for help. But the fact is, I am only one person. We try to act like we can carry the world on our shoulders. We cant. It doesn’t make you smaller to ask for help. It keeps you from breaking.
11. It's OK To Change.
The most annoying thing in the world is when an old “friend” or acquaintance says’ “you’ve changed.” Girl, I hope I have! It doesn’t make you fake, it doesn’t make you two-faced. It makes you human. You go through life, you have different experiences, you learn new things. You should change. As long as you aren’t changing specifically for someone else, change all you want!
12. Sometimes You Need To Put Yourself First.
It doesn’t make you selfish to put yourself first sometimes. As a matter of fact, you have to. You cannot always put everyone before yourself because you will break. I know what you’re thinking, “I have so many people who rely on me.” That doesn’t mean you can’t take a break. Have a spa day, go shopping, do what you have to do to make sure you’re OK. Because if you’re not at your best, how can you help someone else?
13. You Will Never Be Perfect.
This one is going to be short too. You will never be perfect. Stop trying to be perfect. You’re stressing yourself out more than you need to.
14. Question People.
You don’t have to take things for face value. Question things. Question people. If your teacher says something that you don’t agree with, speak up. Its OK to call someone out or ask for clarification.
15. Sometimes Life Just Sucks. Get Over It.
You can’t have the good without the bad. Sometimes life is hard. Life is like a rollercoaster; there are ups and downs. You’re going to have downs. Everyone does. Tough it out. Things will get better. Just because you can’t see it in the future doesn’t mean it won’t happen.
16. You Get Out What You Put In.
If you put in 10 percent, that’s what you’re going to get back. If you go into something with a negative attitude, you’re going to get a negative outcome. Try your best to see the bright side, and put in 100 percent. Most of the time you will get a good outcome, and if you don’t, you get the satisfaction of knowing you did your best.
17. It's OK To Let People Go.
Not everyone who walks into your life is meant to stay there. Some people will last forever and some people will leave almost immediately. Don’t try to keep negative people in your life. If someone is hurting you, let him or her go. They were not meant to stay. They were meant to teach you a lesson.
18. Brag About Yourself.
It is OK to be proud of your accomplishments. It is OK to tell your friends about something you are excited about. You work hard to achieve these things. It’s OK to talk about them.
19. You Are The Only Person Who Can Make You Look Stupid.
You might think someone put you in a position where you come out looking foolish. That guy who hurt you or the friend that talked bad about you and made you look dumb for trusting her? Yeah. They can’t make you look dumb. The only thing that can make you look dumb is you and how you react to these people.
20. You Are Worth It.
You are worth someone’s time. You are worth the effort. Don’t let anyone put on the back burner. You are worth more than being on a back burner.
