Although I never imagined I’d be spending my 21st birthday last week waiting for a COVID test result (it was negative we all good), it seemed only fitting with the way the past year has gone. Yet like any birthday, I felt reflective of how I’ve grown over the years, even if it can be sometimes hard to notice. Here are just some of the things I thought I’d share…
1. People think about themselves way more than they think about you.
2. Good friends can make anything a fun time.
3. Keep a list of gift ideas for people throughout the year, trust me it’ll come in handy when you’re stuck for Christmas presents.
4. No one’s life is as perfect as it may seem on social media.
5. Trust your instincts.
6. Don’t keep your phone in your back pocket when going to the toilet.
7. Fashion changes all the time so you may as well just wear whatever you want – it’ll be “in fashion” at some point.
8. Be nicer to yourself. You’re the only permanent part of your life.
9. You will never see the majority of people you went to school with once you’ve left, make of that what you will.
10. Drink more water, especially when you wake up in the morning.
11. Society was constructed by men for men.
12. Back up your laptop/computer work (please just do it).
13. Life happens at a different pace for everyone.
14. Ask yourself whether you actually like someone or just the idea of them – they’re two very different things.
15. Avoid becoming reliant on lip balm, it’s harder to stop using than you’d think.
16. Read as often and widely as you can.
17. Mindset is everything.
18. Every part of your body is natural and perfect as it is. Don’t let society tell you otherwise.
19. Playing early 2000s music can hype anyone up.
20. You’ll regret not doing things more than doing them and embarrassing yourself. At the very least it’ll make a funny story.
21. Do literally whatever makes you happy (as long as it doesn’t hurt others).