I turned 21 last week. To commemorate, here are 21 things I learned in my 21 years of life.
- All good things must come to an end
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“Nothing gold can stay.” —Robert Frost.
All things have their beginning and end. When you accept that even the most amazing experiences have a timeline and that appreciation is temporary, you will have a more gracious outlook on life.
- privacy is power
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Everyone should not know how you’re doing in life. Social media has connected us, and it has given people a tool to share every single part of their life. I have found that being more exclusive with what you share can bring more happiness. Don’t forget that the evil eye is real.
- everything affects everything
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Everything is connected. Every action has a reaction. One tiny moment is what led us here right now.
- Balance is key
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It’s hard living in extremes all the time. The key to a healthier life is balance.
- your parents are humans
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Many kids have that transition in their life when they realize that mom and dad are just people. It’s a pivotal point in growing up when one is able to acknowledge that their parents are people who make mistakes, don’t know all the answers and are simply living their own life.
- you don’t have to stay in places you don’t want to be in
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Goodbye social norms. Once you realize “I don’t really have to be here if I don’t want to be,” you’ll never look back. This goes for unhealthy relationships or maybe an awkward party you feel like leaving.
- everyone is a little weird
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We are all individuals. No two people are intricately the same. It’s okay to embrace the quirks of your personality.
- no one is coming to save you
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Encourage yourself. Be your own hero. When life gets you down, you are the only one that can fully pick yourself.
- time heals
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Time is mankind’s greatest gift. It helps you gain clarity on the past when you use it to heal your wounds.
- your mind is your biggest enemy
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It’s you versus you. Your mind is going to want you to stay in your comfort zone and keep you safe. The desire to be in this comfort zone is a big limitation. The good thing is, you can control it.
- the tighter you hold on to something, the more it hurts
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Embrace the art of letting go.
- art is life
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“Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are all noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.” —”Dead Poet’s Society”
- sometimes things don’t work out and that’s okay
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It truly is okay.
- Saying yes more often leads to better experiences
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The only way to expand your horizons is to get out there. The act of saying “yes” won’t get you controlled results, but it will gift you new perspectives, expand your knowledge and result in good stories to tell later.
- take care with what you put in your body
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Your body carries you through life. It needs proper sleep, food and hygiene. We kill our bodies when we abuse them with ridiculous amounts of processed foods, drugs and little to no movement. Your body is a temple.
- you should never regret loving someone
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Your heart was able to see the good and the best parts in someone. It was able to love. Why regret that?
- There is money to be Made
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There are so many money-making opportunities out there in this world that don’t have to be about clocking in and out. At the same time, it’s important to never knock someone’s hustle for how they choose to make money.
- there are two kinds of opponents in this world: the haters and the unbelievers
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There are the people that are actively hoping you fail—the haters. Then, there is the worst kind of people in my opinion—the unbelievers. These are the people that don’t even believe you have the potential, and they don’t believe you are worth hating on in the first place. Both kinds of people can be strangers or close friends.
- Self-respect and boundaries are important
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You have to know what you will and will not accept in your life if you want to be able to take care of your well-being.
- it’s okay to embrace the chaos
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Just as you embrace the good parts of life, you must embrace the bad. They can’t exist without each other.
- You can’t stare at our wounds forever
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Complaining gets you nowhere. Blaming other people for your pain gets you nowhere. Feeling sorry for yourself gets you nowhere. Healing is not linear nor is it direct, but if you at least take one step into healing those wounds you have—you’re doing something right.