1. Putting yourself first, when it comes to self-care, is absolutely essential at times.

2. Don't get in cars with people you don't know very well.

(If you've ever seen any kind of crime show or documentary, this shouldn't sound all that shocking.)

3. Just because something is on sale doesn't mean you have to buy it.

4. Just because something is expensive doesn't mean you have to buy it.

5. You are not obligated to respond, flirt with, or date someone just because they are attracted to you.

6. Someone else is not obligated to respond, flirt with, or date you, simply because you are attracted to them.

(If it's not mutual or healthy, you can't force it.)

7. You can't force someone to date you, be your friend, or even treat you decently.

8. All that you can control in life are your thoughts, your words, and your actions.

9. You aren't responsible for how anyone else acts; you're only responsible for your life choices.

10. Words do matter; be kind, if possible. 

11. Take accountability, even when it's hard.

Yes, we all screw up sometimes, but taking personal ownership and accountability for your words or actions is a huge part of growing up and becoming a decent human being.

12. Don't let someone spin a situation, abuse you, or manipulate you.

I've learned this lesson on several fronts. If you've read a previous article of mine, you would know that I've been in an abusive relationship in my lifetime. I've also been the target of manipulation on a couple of other fronts as well. The biggest lesson that I can take away from those situations are that while accountability is important, I am not responsible, nor should I ever take the blame, for someone else's actions. (Conversely, at the time, accountability wasn't a lesson that I had learned, so I've also learned that no one else is responsible for taking the blame for my actions either.)

13. This world owes you nothing; make the most of what you've been given, anyways.

This lesson is one that even some individuals older than me have failed to grasp. And yes, while there are certain injustices that should be fought against to the best of our abilities, not every life inconvenience is a huge injustice.

14. Not every bad life circumstance or thing that doesn't go your way is a huge injustice.

Sometimes, bad things just simply happen without any explanation at all. However, not every minor unpleasant life situation is a terrible injustice; grow up and learn to cope with the fact that sometimes things in life will inevitably just go wrong. (This one, along with the last item on the list, is a hard concept that even adults older than myself fail to grasp sometimes.)

15. Always help someone if you can, and if you can't, at least don't be a jerk.

16. Apologies are and are not always necessary.

Sometimes, apologies are absolutely necessary to repair a situation, but sometimes they are not. Sometimes, simply moving on in life without any apologies is the healthiest thing to do. (Sometimes you do not need an apology to move on; but sometimes closure is the way to go.)

17. Don't eat yellow snow. 

Okay, so this one is both funny and practical.

18. Drinking milk a little after the expiration date is similar to Russian Roulette.

Just a personal life tip from an unfortunate situation.

19. If you're self-conscious about eating in public, chances are, you're not the only person.

Chances are, no one is watching you eat; everyone is too busy with their own lives to focus on you.

20. Life is short; eat the dessert.

Obviously don't binge or pig out, but something sweet once in a while is perfectly fine. Life is way too short to wish you would have eaten that piece of cheesecake.

21. Don't let shopping trips make you feel crappy about yourself; you're worth more than just a sizing number on the tag of a pair of jeans.

22. Walk away from things in life that aren't meant for you.

So what? That girl in your class got the thing you wanted. Yes, it sucks tremendously…for a little bit. Part of growing up and maturing is realizing that everyone has a different path in life that they are meant to take; other people's life paths aren't your business.

23. I was born to be fully and authentically myself, and I owe it to myself to figure out who that person is. You owe it to yourself to find out who you truly are, too.

This one is probably the most important lesson I've learned. With all of the Internet-Famous, look-alike, cookie-cutter pervasiveness in our society, I believe that it is my job to figure out exactly who I'm supposed to be and follow that path wholeheartedly and fully. It's your job, too. Each and every one of us has been gifted with a little spark of something unique. It's your duty to yourself to figure out what that is and to figure out who you're supposed to be. And, truth be told, that is a journey that I am still on.