This past Saturday, May 11th, I was confronted with the closing of my second year of adulthood and the end of my teenage years. At this significant milestone, I realized how much I have lived through, and how much I have grown and learned over the span of my life. Upon this realization, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on a few things I have learned up until this point. Here are 20 things I have learned in 20 years of living (plus some fun pictures all taken by me!):
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Always be kind first, nothing else is worth it.
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Listen to yourself, trust your gut.
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It’s okay to change your passions and interests, it doesn’t change your identity.
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Never pay full price for anything – going straight to the sale rack or thrifting is where it’s at.
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Drink lots of water (like obviously, but still).
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The New York CIty Public Transportation System. Trust me, this is an accomplishment.
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Few things are as powerful as live music.
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How to travel without my parents (even to other countries!)
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The importance of healthy and effective communication, something the world could use a little more of.
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Be passionate about the things you care about, and show it.
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Write things down, you are going to want to look back and remember who you were at the time you wrote it (same goes for taking pictures).
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It’s okay to make mistakes, but own up to them and don’t make excuses. Then learn from them.
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How powerful a community can be when it comes together.
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Everyone has their own paths in life, you don’t have to agree with it for it to be right for someone else.
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Stand up for what you believe, nothing is going to change if you don’t change it.
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Don’t turn down opportunities out of fear
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It’s okay for your mom to be right, usually she is.
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Be a supportive friend, and be friends with those that support you.
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Time is precious, don’t waste it.
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Always stay adventurous, silly and curious.
I hope you learned something from my experiences, and hopefully the next 20 years come with even more important lessons.