18 Things I Learned At 18

Everybody knows the age of 18. There are so many songs written about it, and it would be weird if someone didn't sing 18 by One Direction on your 18th birthday. Sadly, you only have 365 days of being able to listen to those songs, and then you're 19 and those songs don't apply to you anymore.

July 20th was a sad day this year, because those songs stopped applying to me. I turned 19, and there aren't any love songs about being 19. However, in the time that i was 18, I learned a lot of things. So, here's a list of 18 things that I learned at 18:

1. Friends are very important.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F07%2F20%2F6360457895848560891784039522_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=236&h=308113abca869f45b68f74d38825c49c25b7d8f46c84eda6deec225f2c4dafeb&size=980x&c=1173871852 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F07%252F20%252F6360457895848560891784039522_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D236%26h%3D308113abca869f45b68f74d38825c49c25b7d8f46c84eda6deec225f2c4dafeb%26size%3D980x%26c%3D1173871852%22%7D" expand=1]

I'm not just talking about the TV show. Keeping people close is good, and telling them about your feelings is good.

2. However, you are MORE important.

Say it with me: self-love isn't selfish. Self-love isn't selfish.

3. Naps are my best friend.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F07%2F20%2F636045790546488360-1239222203_568b77b0dccab.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=150&h=bc287aa40e258a00b2a755c5bcb4b380cd605985b9eed15b2bcd0d6becf0bbc1&size=980x&c=2992452098 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F07%252F20%252F636045790546488360-1239222203_568b77b0dccab.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D150%26h%3Dbc287aa40e258a00b2a755c5bcb4b380cd605985b9eed15b2bcd0d6becf0bbc1%26size%3D980x%26c%3D2992452098%22%7D" expand=1]

When life gets too hard, take a nap. You'll feel better, and you'll be able to look at things differently when you wake up.

4. Letting down your guard doesn't have to mean pain.

Too often, letting people see the real you is associated with pain. Letting down your guard and letting people in should be celebrated.

5. Emotions absolutely suck.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F07%2F20%2F636045791145034696-1307936131_tumblr_inline_ngsdiqZOCs1srdacu.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=894&h=636f146caf592328ca30127a7961778c7a9b65da7a0626e9722d4afd6025e3cd&size=980x&c=49681262 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F07%252F20%252F636045791145034696-1307936131_tumblr_inline_ngsdiqZOCs1srdacu.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D894%26h%3D636f146caf592328ca30127a7961778c7a9b65da7a0626e9722d4afd6025e3cd%26size%3D980x%26c%3D49681262%22%7D" expand=1]

After going through a heartbreak that almost physically broke me, I came to the conclusion that emotions suck a lot and should be stopped. However...

6. Feelings things doesn't make you weak.

Feeling those sucky emotions is a GOOD thing. Letting yourself feel emotions is GOOD and shows that you're a human being who has a heart.

7. Loving a guy is hard.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F07%2F20%2F6360457920205661101687603781_annebreakup.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=746&h=6a25f6375e38b9dce15b7d8e7cb0b089839f723dae60324b8d3639cfd4c965de&size=980x&c=3546656213 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F07%252F20%252F6360457920205661101687603781_annebreakup.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D746%26h%3D6a25f6375e38b9dce15b7d8e7cb0b089839f723dae60324b8d3639cfd4c965de%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3546656213%22%7D" expand=1]

A lot of ups and downs with this one, and even though I'm totally single, loving said guy was one of the best things I've done.

8. Giving yourself space is amazing.

Taking time away from your friends and being by yourself can really help you focus on yourself and learn what you really enjoy doing, even if it just involves sitting alone in your dorm room and painting cardboard boxes.

9. Everything is an adventure.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F07%2F20%2F636045792894283877-2146785090_tumblr_mu7f72pn6R1revx3do1_500.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=770&h=3cb4c0a6b3fc3b166e3d41e232d39ce6165be0698009426d869945f4e0d5f4ff&size=980x&c=436546408 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F07%252F20%252F636045792894283877-2146785090_tumblr_mu7f72pn6R1revx3do1_500.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D770%26h%3D3cb4c0a6b3fc3b166e3d41e232d39ce6165be0698009426d869945f4e0d5f4ff%26size%3D980x%26c%3D436546408%22%7D" expand=1]

Even if it's a trip to the gas station at 2 a.m. for snacks. Everything is an adventure.

10. Wanderlust can be conquered.

Pinterest is your friend. Travel boards are your friend.

11. Tearing down other people doesn't do anything.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F07%2F20%2F6360457940580490261801963449_giphy%2520%281%29.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=441&h=719c7abd87364a8c3f04c0b64efa77cc8d572410ea796d7848e1c13f648d8c69&size=980x&c=3478538396 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F07%252F20%252F6360457940580490261801963449_giphy%252520%25281%2529.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D441%26h%3D719c7abd87364a8c3f04c0b64efa77cc8d572410ea796d7848e1c13f648d8c69%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3478538396%22%7D" expand=1]

Learning to love people no matter what is so terrifying and difficult, but so worth it.

12. Positivity! Is! Amazing!

I love being positive! It helps with being focused and just keeps you in such a good mood.

13. Laughter is the best form of medicine.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F07%2F20%2F636045795101126589-1982591481_brendan_fraser_laugh.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=389&h=5385cfc738a9f654be9dabec603ced7a8541d1366cad08626fae7f3022d5e681&size=980x&c=3361567753 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F07%252F20%252F636045795101126589-1982591481_brendan_fraser_laugh.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D389%26h%3D5385cfc738a9f654be9dabec603ced7a8541d1366cad08626fae7f3022d5e681%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3361567753%22%7D" expand=1]

This goes for anything. Have the flu? Watch some videos on YouTube. Feeling down about a bad grade? Hang out with your friends and laugh.

14. Violence still isn't the answer.

Even though "fight me" is something I say all the time, violence will never bring answers to anything. It will only bring pain and a lot of bruises.

15. Making new friends can be amazing.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F07%2F20%2F636045795624761338-2022591430_Step-Brothers-Did-we-just-become-best-friends.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=885&h=65e3ef6c5d0c82d8f796536c3ee1a17f0b8a3571982a3950e6682a7e48c1f635&size=980x&c=3160414668 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F07%252F20%252F636045795624761338-2022591430_Step-Brothers-Did-we-just-become-best-friends.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D885%26h%3D65e3ef6c5d0c82d8f796536c3ee1a17f0b8a3571982a3950e6682a7e48c1f635%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3160414668%22%7D" expand=1]

I love my friends from home, but going to college forced me out of a shell that I didn't know I had. Making new friends from far away places just brings in more people for me to love, and I am very welcome to that.

16. Keep an open mind at all times.

There are so many different people in the world. Everybody has their own experiences and not being judgmental makes it so much easier to accept people.

17. Goodbye doesn't always mean goodbye.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F07%2F20%2F636045796583826425-1219950021_Peace_out_girl_scout.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=102&h=f54c692f9f12aabd239e35de4fa0b04370cc022297575e525cd390390c4d10d1&size=980x&c=2885618170 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F07%252F20%252F636045796583826425-1219950021_Peace_out_girl_scout.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D102%26h%3Df54c692f9f12aabd239e35de4fa0b04370cc022297575e525cd390390c4d10d1%26size%3D980x%26c%3D2885618170%22%7D" expand=1]

There were a lot of people I said goodbye since July 20th, 2015, and it doesn't always have to be permanent.

18. I am worth it.

I have lived my life thinking that nobody would miss me if I died. This last year has taught me that I have a worth and that worth is precious. I went from feeling worthless to full of life, and I could not ask for more.