As I'm growing up, I'm observing the world around me and trying to take in as much as possible. While taking in everything that this world has to offer, I've come to the conclusion that I've been learning an awful lot about our current state of reality. I've learned a lot, and I'm sure that I'll learn a lot more as life goes on.

1. Life is not fair, and you shouldn't expect it to be fair.

Horrible things happen to great people. Women don't get voted into office when you think they should. Your house catches on fire. Your next door neighbor moves away. Your best friend is killed in a car accident.

2. You don't always get a return on your investments.

You could spend a lot of time investing in a project or a person, but the likelihood of getting a return on that investment is roughly the same: you're likely not going to.

3. Sometimes you have to have the emotional maturity to let someone go.

We as humans want nothing more than to cling to the people we hold closest to us. But when they start to become toxic and detrimental to our well-being, we have to know when to let them go.

4. Being angry will not solve your problems.

Throwing fists, being petty and just being disrespectful will not get anything accomplished.

5. However, being angry can help create awareness of your situation and others like it.

Black children are killed every day. That's something to be angry about. Men and women are raped at numbers that are higher than they should be. Get angry about injustices. Make an effort to make a change with that anger.

6. Complaining never solved anything, but it feels so good to get everything out.

Complaining is a great way to get your emotions out without bottling it up. Don't complain often, but complain with purpose.

7. Sometimes, you have to cry.

Crying makes you feel better. That's a proven fact. As humans, things are supposed to make us sad and we're supposed to cry sometimes.

8. You truly are your own worst enemy at times.

You nitpick your physical features. Your depression gets you depressed. Your own personality makes you angry. It's OK to feel that way.

9. There's always someone out there who will love you more than you'll love yourself.

Don't go searching for it, but let it come to you. Love is a beautiful thing and while you work on loving yourself, allow -- no, invite -- someone to love you more.

10. You have to find your passion in life.

And it isn't something you have to be passionate about. You don't have to be great at what your passion is in life. You just have to find that thing you gravitate toward and well, gravitate to it often.

11. Sometimes glamour isn't what it's cracked up to be.

You don't have to have the next big thing to be successful. If you want it, it's fine, but don't feel that it's necessary to have glamour and excitement all the time. I get excited buying a new ink pen, but you don't see me yearning for the next Samsung or iPhone.

12. Never be ashamed of your poverty.

I grew up poor, so I'm slightly biased in that I've felt shamed for being poor while at the same time feeling free, because we didn't always have the money to go and do everything. Take poverty as an opportunity at simplicity, if you can.

13. Don't let anyone know of your plans.

You don't have to tell people what you're doing. It's totally OK to have secrets and to keep them locked away in a box until you feel like it's the right time to tell everyone.

14. Not everything can be done on a whim.

As you grow up, you're going to find that you can't take weekend trips whenever you want to. Life takes a lot of planning, and that includes vacationing. You're going to find that your lack of foresight will ultimately be your demise.

15. Life does not go according to plan.

I know this contradicts the previous point, but sometimes things happen that we don't expect. Babies are born without telling their parents that they're arriving. Houses burn down. People get into car accidents. Good people get cancer. Things happen and you have to be able to adjust.

16. No one has to agree with your opinions.

Be prepared to defend your opinions with concrete evidence. You can't go by in life on feelings and anecdotes.

17. Your good deeds don't need thanking.

Do things that benefit other people. Don't do things to expect a thank you and to be the hero in your own story. It doesn't work like that.

18. No one is obligated to give you any of their time.

And that goes for just about anything else to do with a single person. No one is obligated to do anything for you.

19. Getting organized can be stressful at that moment, but it saves a lot of stress in the future.

The stress you get from trying to get organized is temporary.

20. Having a lot of money in your savings is more satisfying than having a lot of money in your checking.

I have a bit of money in my checking account, but looking at a savings jar and knowing that I have more there than in my checking is satisfying because now I have a backup plan for unexpected turns.

21. Taking care of yourself involves doing uncomfortable things.

You have to pay attention to your body and make changes that are good for you. You aren't going to like it, but it's necessary.

Honestly, I'm pretty prepared to turn 21 next year. Question is, are you?