In a little over a month, I will be turning 24 years old, as my birthday approaches, It got me thinking about everything that I have learned over the course of my 23 years of life. So much has happened since I turned 23. It is the year that I finally learned to love myself, the year that I stopped caring about what others thought about me. Most importantly, it is the year that I finally feel completely comfortable in my own skin. It took me so long to get here and what I have learned is so important.

Here are the top ten things that I have Learned:

1. Life is too short to worry about every little thing in your life, focus more on the big picture. If you don’t like what you see, you can change it. It is never too late to change your life.
2. Take care of yourself, self care is so important. Take a moment everyday to do something beneficial for yourself, whether it be a nice and warm shower or watching something funny on Netflix to take your mind off of your day. Unwinding is so important.
3. Stop caring about what others think. This one was one of the hardest ones for me but once you can get there, your whole life and perspective will change.
4. Love the person you see back in the mirror, always find something about yourself that you love, instead of focusing on what you hate. You are the only you that you have got. It is so important to love what you see.
5. Surround Yourself with people who enrich your life, who encourage and who love you. Get rid of the toxicity that surrounds you, your life and mental state will be better for it. Those people who bring you down hold no place in your life.
6. Work on how to feel comfortable in your own skin. This was really hard and it took me 23 years to get here and that is okay because I got here and now that I have I never want to go back to the point of my life where I hated myself and the skin I was in.
7. Wear the clothes that you make you feel good about yourself, embrace your body and love it.
8. Let go of the people who have hurt you in the past. If you feel you can forgive them, you can do so but if not just let go of the anger and sadness that you may feel towards them.
9. Spend time with your family. They are the only ones you have, cherish the moments you have with them. Call them up and tell them you love them. Spend time laughing and smiling with each other.
10. Lastly, remember that you are worthy, you are loved and that you can handle anything that life may throw at you.

Love the life you live!