With each year of our lives comes a new sense of understanding the world we’ve encountered throughout our lives. At the ripe age of 19, I may be far from knowing everything, but I feel like I’m one step closer to knowing just a little bit more. So as I venture through this next year of my life, I’m looking back on what I’ve seen, and getting ready for the years to come. Here are a few things I’ve learned.
1. Things change. All the time. I used to worry that when things got a little hard I would be stuck there forever. But the years have shown me that things in my life are changing every single day. Sometimes for the worse, but mostly for the better. Nothing lasts forever, but at the end of the day, that's alright. At least you had a good thing, if only for a moment; and life’s really just a series of moments anyways.
2. Don’t feel like you have to search too hard to find good people to keep in your life. Oftentimes the best ones come in unexpectedly, and though they may not stay forever, their time with you is a blessing you shouldn’t take for granted.
3. What other people think about you really doesn’t matter. Honestly, though, it’s not even worth thinking about. Just like how the good people will come and go, the bad ones will as well. When the long days and nights come to an end, you’re the only person who has the ability to change how you feel about yourself. Don’t ever forget how in control you really are.
4. If you want to do something, then go for it. If it’s not meant to be, then it won’t be, but you don’t lose anything from trying. In this crazy world of responsibilities and stress, you have to take some time out to do something for yourself. Don’t give up on your hobbies, and start new ones all the time.
5. Don’t let negative people cloud your view of how beautiful this world really is. Watching random strangers interact and be happy can make you happy, and so can a bright sunny day. There’s always beauty if you’re willing to look for it, and often times, you won’t have to look very hard.
6. Keep dreaming big; don’t ever take your head out of the clouds. Maybe some people see it as a weakness, but to me, it’s the whole reason I’ve accomplished all the things I’ve done so far. If there’s a will there’s a way and if anyone can make it, you can.
7. And lastly, make every day count; the years go by quicker than you think.
Maybe all these things don't mean much coming from a young kid like myself. But 19 years of knowledge is better than none. So I think it counts for something.
