“Your 20s are your ‘selfish’ years. It’s a decade to immerse yourself in every single thing possible. Be selfish with your time, and all the aspects of you. Tinker with shit, travel, explore, love a lot, love a little, and never touch the ground.” -Kyoko Escamilla.
Although I am a newbie at this whole "being 20" thing, I am learning rather quickly that these next 10 years just may be the best of my life. And I'm taking Escamila's words to heart. My 20s are the years of me. Here are my 10 rules to live by in the Decade of Me.
1. Learn from your mistakes, but do not obsess over them.
It is okay to fail at something. Seriously, you think all successful older people knew what they wanted to do and exactly how to do it when they were still in college/freshly out? Highly doubtful. Chances are, you're not going to be perfect at everything; it's okay to accept that and move on. Try a lot of things, okay?
2. Do not stress about money.
As of now, you have no major responsibilities. You don't have children to feed or a hefty mortgage. If you want to spend your last $15 on the cover charge at a bar, so be it. Whether it be a paycheck from your job waiting tables or a weekly deposit from your loving parents, money will magically appear again soon, so chill out.
3. Be the bigger person.
People are going to piss you off. Whether it is the girl that kissed your ex or the boy that didn't call your roommate back, let it go. Be kind to them; trust me, it takes way less time and energy. If your best friend is mad at you, put your big kid undies on and apologize, even if they are upset over something ridiculously dumb.
4. Do not give a crap about what others think.
It is not your business what others think of you. Don't waste any time trying to please people that are not even essential to your life. Love yourself and your life for what it is and take pride in it. Remember: "nobody truly interesting is universally liked." (Thank you for this, "Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce," this is my new favorite quote).
5. Say "yes" to everything.
Okay, so not everything, but definitely a lot of stuff. Jump on the next train out of your comfort zone and do new and exciting things. Accept an invitation to a party where you barely know anyone. Go bungee-jumping. Dance with the nerdy guy who extends his hand to you on the dance floor. Take life by the horns and experience all that you can.
6. Not everyone in your life now will always be in your life.
Some people are not meant to stick around forever. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and let go of anyone that is holding you back in some way. Move on.
7. Kiss lots of boys (or girls, depending on your preference).
Try on boys like you try on shoes. Kiss a few at parties, go on many dates with many suitors. Have fun (but maintain your class), and if the time comes, let yourself fall. Love a lot or love none, just stay open-minded to it all.
8. Appreciate your body.
Eat good food, don't constantly shove junk down your throat (but don't be afraid to dig into the tub of ice cream while watching "P.S. I l Love You"). Drink the fun stuff, but be kind to your liver, and give it a break every now and then. Exercise. Not like a maniac, but jump on the trampoline, do some yoga, take your dog for a stroll—do something.
9. Choose to be happy every single day.
Even if life isn't going your way (which, sometimes, it won't), stay positive. It all happens for a reason, and you are never going to be given anything you can't handle. Smile through the hard times, they will pass.
10. Don't be afraid of change.
This is the decade when you become who you've always been meant to be. This is the time when your whole life is going to be morphed into something completely new. It will become totally different, but absolutely wonderful and beautiful. Let it happen. Try to love and embrace every second of it.
With the start of a whole new chapter in your life, the world has just opened you up to a billion new opportunities, so try every one you can.
Never touch the ground.
