Regret is a part of life. There is no avoiding it, and it sucks. Sometimes you regret the small things like wearing jeans instead of leggings to school, but sometimes your regrets stay with you much longer than the duration of a school day. Obviously, I have regrets that will stay with me, everyone does. But recently, I've realized that there are so many things I've just barely begun to do that I should have done sooner. Here are some of them.
1. Realized that it's okay not to do what everyone else is doing. Find your own path and follow that.
2. Started not to care what people think of me.
3. Spent more time with family.
4. Got a job that made me genuinely happy.
5. Admitted when something's wrong.
6. Done what I want, not what others wanted from me.
7. Started YouTube.
8. Started writing.
9. Gave new music a chance.
10. Saved my money.
11. Taken full responsibility for my actions.
12. Not relied on other people to make me happy.
13. Became more informed on varying viewpoints.
14. Understood that when you put yourself out there on a worldwide platform, there will be people who don't agree with your opinions, and that's okay. To each their own.
15. Loved myself.
16. Reached out to new people.
17. Realized what I want to study, and that I'm going to need to save a lot of money to make that possible.
18. Realized that your friends want the best for you. Listen to their advice.
19. Said yes to more things.
20. Not taken everything so seriously.
21. Given myself a break.
22. Known the overwhelming truth behind "It gets better."
23. Realized that I'm more than I think I am, and that I am capable of anything I put my mind to.
24. Said "screw you" to whatever is holding me back.
25. Understood that wanting to be alone is fine, and it doesn't make you a weirdo.
26. Told my friends how much I love and appreciate them.
27. Pursued something I am passionate about, and found a place where that can be my job.
28. Recognized my talents.
29. Called my grandpa.
30. Told people what I really thought.
31. Didn't hide the fact that I needed help.
32. Laughed more and cried less.
33. Realized that if there's nothing you can do about something, accept it and move on.
34. Stood for what I believed in.
35. Started to take control of my own life and focused on my future.
36. Started saving for my own apartment.
37. Appreciated how much my parents have put on the line to make my life as great as it is. Money doesn't grow on trees, kids.
38. Spent more time in the city.
39. Smiled at more people.
40. Known how much I matter to so many people, and that people genuinely do care about me and love me, even though that's sometimes hard to see.
41. Kept my room clean.
42. Hung out with my dog more.
43. Talked about myself less.
44. Wore whatever I want without the goal of pleasing others.
45. Told someone when they were wrong.
46. Stood up for people who didn't have their own voice.
47. Read more.
48. Eaten more vegetables, because that whole thing about eating healthy making you happier is 100% true.
49. Learned to drive on the highway.
50. Realized that no matter what you're going through, there is someone out there somewhere who has gone through the same thing. Just because you don't know them doesn't mean they don't exist.
51. Spent time with the family I nannied for over the summer, because babies don't stay babies forever.
52. Accepted the fact that I will have bad days.
53. Known that money isn't at my disposal, and saving is crucial.
54. Let the people I knew in high school who I may never speak to again know how much I appreciated whatever relationship we had.
55. Written a letter to my favorite teacher.
56. Realized that it's okay not to want to party all the time, even though it seems like everyone around you does.
57. Watched HGTV.
58. Developed my own personal style, separate from what may be 'on trend.'
59. Tried to see the good in everyone.
60. Interviewed for my job sooner.
61. Believed in myself enough to actually go out and do things I never thought I could.
