2018 has been a hard year for a lot of people. We have had a very intense year for politics and things going on in the world, and everyone has been spending the year fighting back against the hate. It's by far the fastest year I have ever lived and it feels like it was January just yesterday. Even though it has been a rough year for me personally, I have learned a lot and have grown as an individual. So, as I enter a new year in my 20's, this is what I have learned in 2018.
1. Moving Into My First Apartment
Photo Credit: Mia Dusek
This year, I finally moved out of my parent's house and into a two bedroom apartment with 3 close friends. Moving is a lot of work and thinking about how many times I'll have to move in the future exhausts me. It's different going from not having to pay rent to paying 2 weeks worth of wages to live somewhere.
2. Living With Friends
Photo Credit: Mia Dusek
This is the first time in my whole life I've had to share a room with someone, and it's not that bad. I have to crack the code on this one and say to everyone who has told me that living with friends won't go well and can be really hard, you must have not had friends who are as good as mine. Yeah, we have our tiffs once in a while, but nothing intense. We're close homies that we can always be honest when something is bothering us, and always stay close through our late night chats and dance parties. Living with friends can be a piece of cake if you do it with good intentions and the right way.
3. Breaking Up With Someone In Person
I've had my share of relationships so far and have only been broken up with twice. Every time I've broken up with someone it has been through text, mostly when I was in school and no one really wanted to do it in person. This year, I experienced doing it in person and it was probably one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I'm glad I was actually courageous enough to do it.
4. Being Single For A Full Year (Almost)
I've been a single lady since the middle of January, so I've almost reached the year mark of singleness. I like to date in the winter and be single during the summer, so this year has been a little hard not dating anyone (I've dated someone every winter for probably the past 5 years or more). This year the longest I've gone being single since I was in 6th grade and its been an interesting time. All I can say is that sometimes it's nice to not get too attached and just have nice flings.
5. Budgeting
Now that I pay rent every month and have other consistent bills, I've had to tweak my budgeting recipe to make it fit my lifestyle. I try as hard as I can to save up for things like travel and not spend money on those things that I don't really need. It's hard to save money when you're trying to not starve at the same time.
6. Throwing A Rager
Photo Credit: Mia Dusek
My roommates and I will never forget the Halloween Party of 2018, including the iconic fact that my roommate and I, Fanta Diallo, dressed up as Jughead and Betty from Riverdale. There were too many people in our tiny apartment, Jello all over our carpet, and a guy completely trashed in our bathroom clogging our sink with macaroni vomit chunks. Shoutout to good friends who'll help you clean up afterward and change your sheets when you throw up in your bed. I will never be throwing a big party like this ever again.
7. Confessing Feelings For Someone
Photo Credit: Mia Dusek
I don't think I've ever confessed feelings for someone knowing that they probably don't like me back, but this year I did and it was in person. I have reached a point in life where I have realized that it's much better to tell someone how you feel because if you don't, you're just wasting time. People deserve to know how you feel about them and you deserve to express your feelings! Nothing is worse than bottling it all up until it's too late.
8. Summer Is Amazing And Never Gets Enough Attention
Photo Credit: Mia Dusek
Last winter as well as this one has finally made me declare that summer is the best season. Don't get me wrong, I love certain things about every season and the beginning of each season. This winter is really hitting me hard, and has made me think about how I never do enough in the summer. So in 2019, be outside as much as you possibly can! Especially in those few hot months we get in Minnesota.
9. Coffee Gets Really Expensive
Photo Credit: Mia Dusek
I work at a coffee shop but always find myself going to Starbucks for my usual mochas. This really adds up and can damage your budget. In the new year, I'm going to do the best I can to brew my own coffee at home and limit myself to how much I buy coffee elsewhere.
10. Life Moves Way Too Fast
Like I mentioned at the beginning, this is the fastest year I've ever lived and I know it will only go faster. Some people think it's corny to say things like "You only live once" and "Life is short" but I think we all need to do a better job at living in the moment and taking advantage of every day. This doesn't mean filling up your schedule so full that you burn out, but make sure you're filling your life with things that truly bring you happiness and make you feel full.
