21 Lessons For My 21st Birthday

Today is my 21st birthday and I’m sitting at a bar sipping a mojito and eating tacos. I feel fantastic. I’m living my best life. But, how did I get here? In my now 21 years of being alive, I’ve learned some pretty valuable lessons, and I thought today was a pretty fitting day to share some of them. 21 of them, to be exact. 

21 Lessons For My 21st Birthday:

1. The world isn’t always going to be nice to you. 
2. But that isn’t an excuse to be mean to the world.
3. Your friends are the family you get to choose––treat them well. 
4. If you don’t treat them well, they’re going to walk away. 
5. Or you can be the one to walk away. 
6. Sometimes, walking away from a person or a place is the best thing you can do for yourself.
7. Putting yourself first is not a bad thing. 
8. Learning to love yourself isn’t easy, but it is always worth it. 
9. Learning to love others is hard, too. Do it anyway. 
10. Sunrise yoga is magical.
11. But sleeping in on a Saturday is usually a little bit more magical. 
12. Life isn’t a race––there are no trophies.
13. Slow down and breathe it in.
14. Take those vacation days. 
15. Everything is better by the ocean.
16. Being ambitious is a good thing.
17. But actually working to get what you want is even better. 
18. You’re allowed to demand more when you’re worth more. 
19. And when you get it, celebrate. 
20. You’re going to get told no, more than once, and that’s okay.
21. Because someone will eventually say yes. 

• 21+
• birthday
• lessons
• life