I stopped biting my nails. I know that’s irrelevant to anyone who might be reading this but at the age of 24, in the height of some of the most stressful periods of my life, I finally stopped biting my nails. I kicked a habit that I’ve had since the day I grew fingernails in the womb. And while you might be thinking, “Hey, congrats” and simultaneously wanting to close out this article now, you don’t. Here’s why this is a big deal.

I pretty much kilter on an even playing field of my life coming together and spontaneously combusting every other day. I do my best work in high-stress situations and when I’m bored, I’m an absolute nightmare to be around. When I’m nervous or feeling anxious, I bite my nails and that’s always been a true sign of anyone around me that I’m not okay. But lately, I’ve taken on a new outlook on life. I finally reached the point of maturity where things happen that are beyond my control and I simply say “Well, that sucks. Let’s move on.” I’m not dwelling on past relationships that fell to the wayside, I’m not freaking out that I’m going to be nine cats deep by 25, I’m not stressing over whether my career is developing too slowly, and I’m realizing now, more than ever, that life is made up of the situations that you allow to have control over you. If you lose your job, you find another. If your boyfriend dumps you, you find another. If you’re broke and you can’t pay your bills and you lose everything–you start over. Don’t allow yourself to become loaded down with issues and situations that are hard but not impossible to overcome. Wake up every single day and live your life without limits, without fear or anxiety, and for no one but YOU.

And stop biting your nails.