Life for a young adult woman is hard. Societal expectations have our minds going a million different directions and it becomes so easy to get lost in it all. We sometimes lose our true sense of self and we forget how much we are really worth. As I get older, I see how important it is to keep some really special reminders in mind all the time.

My two younger sisters are my best friends, my soul mates, and my little bugs. I love them more than they'll ever know, and it honestly pains me to see them growing up so quickly. I'm only a little more seasoned than they are, and I want them to promise these twenty things to themselves. These may seem like little things, and maybe they are, but they will carry them through their dark times. There will be a lot, trust me. So, Jewel and Jasmyn, these are for you.

1. I promise to buy those shoes I want, because treat yoself.

2. I promise to be the best version of myself. Not for the satisfaction of others, but for me. Only me.

3. I promise to go to the gym because I know my body will thank me later.

4. I promise to never settle for anything less than I deserve, whether that be proper respect in my workplace, or being treated well in my relationships with others.

5. I promise to love my parents because they are my biggest supporters in every single thing I do.

6. I promise to love God with my whole heart, whole soul, whole mind, and whole strength because my faith will carry me through my trials and tribulations.

7. I promise to drive with my windows down on warm nights and sing as loudly as I can.

8. I promise to have fun because everyone needs to let loose every once in a while.

9. I promise to cry when I need to. Nothing refreshes the mind like letting the tears flow for a little while.

10. I promise to always get back up when I fall. It doesn't matter how hard you fall down, it only matters that you get back up and keep going.

11. I promise to follow my dreams, and to chase them wherever they take me.

12. I promise to wear that lipstick I love because it makes me feel beautiful.

13. I promise to put others before myself when necessary because giving feels so much more gratifying than receiving.

14. I promise to not blow all of my paychecks at the mall because I really need to budget my money, but it's okay to treat yoself every once in a while.

15. I promise to love hard, love deep, and love longingly.

16. I promise to learn from my mistakes and to become a better person because of them.

17. I promise to not care about the opinions of others. I am valuable, I am special, and I am important. Nobody's opinion dictates that. Ever.

18. I promise to always say please and thank you to everyone I encounter.

19. I promise to be a pineapple. Stay sweet and wear a crown because I am so precious.

20. Lastly, I promise to never forget my roots but not be afraid to grow.