In my 19 years of living, I have experienced a lot in my life.
Life truly is one long rollercoaster ride, and you have to make sure you enjoy the people who are on the ride with you. Without further ado, here are 19 things I have learned in my 19 years of being on this wonderful, crazy, gigantic planet earth.
1. People are the most important part of life.
Make sure you check yourself if you start valuing materialistic items over your relationships.
2. Make sure you do things with purpose.
Think consciously about what you're doing. Every choice you make in life defines who you are as a person.
3. Always forgive, but don't forget.
Forgiving others shows strength, not weakness. But don't forget those who have done you wrong.
4. Choose your battles.
Before you pick a fight or call someone out, think, "is this worth our friendship/relationship?"
5. Ask questions.
The answer will always be no unless you ask.
6. Smile and wave at other people.
This not only cuts the awkwardness but makes you come across as a nice person.
7. If you have an important thought in your head, write it down.
Even if you don't end up using it, you can go back through your notes and have a good laugh at your random thoughts you had that one day.
8. Don't take the relationship with your family for granted.
Just because they are your family doesn't give you the right to treat them like shit.
9. Give without the intention of receiving.
If you are trying to be a nice person giving something to someone else and expect something in return you are, in fact, not a nice person.
10. I never regret spending money on other people.
Pay for the person behind you at Starbucks. Splurge on something you think your friend might like. Donate that extra dollar when you go to the thrift store.
11. Truly listen when the people you love are speaking to you.
Don't just listen to respond, listen to understand. This can go a long way.
12. Don't limit your life to the box that society puts you in.
Just because everyone else is doing something doesn't mean you have to.
13. Choose fashion that is both stylish and comfortable.
Life is too short to feel uncomfortable in what you're wearing.
14. Be 100% honest through life, and deal with the consequences later.
Don't do anything that is not 100% true to who you are. Be your own force in your life.
15. Ask "how are you doing" instead of "what are you doing" every once in a while.
Just a simple text. Do it. Your friends and family might need someone to check on them.
16. Make healthier choices in all aspects of your life (mental, emotional, physical).
Eat some more vegetables. Take the stairs. Cut off the people who don't make you happy.
17. It's okay to do things alone sometimes.
You don't have to do everything. With your friends. All the time.
18. Find a creative outlet, even if it's just for yourself.
Color in an adult coloring book. Start a free blog and write your thoughts out like me. Draw. Paint. Take some pictures. Whatever you enjoy.
19. The expectations that people have of you do not define you.
No matter what they what you to do, what they think you are going to do, what they know you have done in the past, it's all noise. Cancel it out, and start achieving your goals.
Writing it down makes it easier for me to stick to and follow through. Using this as a guideline for my life, I know I can set out to be a better person than I was yesterday. I hope this inspires some others out there too :'-)
