Today I had a realization, life is like a box of Gobstoppers – there are multiple colors and each color lasts so long before it changes into another color. Each phase of your life is a different colored jawbreaker. They all taste differently and last different lengths of time to finish. With my 20th birthday just around the corner, the idea of time has been on my mind often lately. There are 365 days in one year, which means 365 chances to make every single day memorable and 365 chances to make the best of your life everyday. Though turning 20 is not a super significant birthday like your sweet 16 or wild 12st, it is the end of your teenage years, the marking of you being in existence for two whole decades. I have been realizing I need to savor every flavor of Gobstopper and make sure I am not taking any of them for granted, because eventually the box does run out.

My birthday got me thinking about everything I have done in the past 20 years. All the memories of playing in the backyard and in my room with all my imaginary friends when I was a little girl come to mind. All the times I played Barbies and American Girl dolls with my best friends for hours on end throughout elementary school. The countless sporting events completed and tests endured. The 19 other birthdays celebrated. The numerous trips to Chicago and vacations to the beach and all the fun times spent with my family. Thoughts of all the relationships that developed and died all too quickly. All the times celebrated victories, and mourned losses after games. All the lovely moments lived, passed, and turned into memories.

Schools. You have managed to live through SO much schooling and somehow you are still able to learn more. You have survived the dreaded junior high days; where you learned to apply and wear makeup, kiss boys, deal with dramatic scenarios, dances, and real lockers. You outlived high school where you learned the challenges of relationships, balancing schedules, proms, games, countless tests, graduation, and several days that you truly believed that single day was the most important day of your life. Most recently, you have battled college. The place where you met your best friends, the place where you learned to live on your own, the place you learned to make your own decisions, the place where you learned who you are and who you want to become.

#Blessed. Writing this article made me think about how incredible blessed I am. I have had a loving family that has been there at my every need my entire (almost) twenty years. I had parents who drove me, coached me, taught me, disciplined me, fed me, clothed me, shelter me, loved me, and helped me soar. I had siblings that played, fought, tested, laughed, and challenged me. I had friends who grew up with me and learned to grow up together. I was given the opportunity to try anything I desired. I attended a fantastic school system growing up. And now I am fortunate enough to go to the best school ever (in my opinion). No life is "perfect," but I am beyond grateful for my imperfect life that suits me perfectly.

The Future. After reflecting on your life, you’re probably thinking about how can you start to make the most of every day. Here is some lyrical inspiration to leave you with to take out into your everyday living. In the words of my girl Hannah Montana, “Life’s what you make it, so let’s make it rock.” If you wake up everyday telling yourself that, you are bound to have an awesome day; it doesn’t even have to be the best day EVER, but go into it with an optimistic mindset. As Frankie Ballard questioned, “How am I ever gonna get to be old and wise—If I ain’t ever young and crazy?” It is crucial to keep that in mind. After reflecting on everything, you realize life is flying by, make the most of it. As we only know we only have so much time to be, “young, wild, and free,” in the words of Wiz Khalifa. Live (fearlessly). Laugh (loudly). Love (aggressively).