Turning 20 In 2020

As soon as the new year starts, I prepare myself for my birthday which is the following month. The month of January goes by really fast for me and before I know it, my birthday rolls around. Every year I am usually super pumped to jump into the next age but this year I had mixed emotions about my birthday. I am turning 20 this year which means leaving my teens behind and entering a new decade. Getting older is scary and a little intimidating! However, I am excited to see what this new decade has in store for me. My teen years were truly lived to their fullest and I wouldn’t change a single thing. Here are seven helpful things I learned in my teen years! 

Sharing my story with others around me to gain support was one of the major things I learned as a teen. I cannot count the times where I felt lost in life and needed someone to share my feelings with. Opening up to others around you makes you feel like you are not alone in the world, and I hope everyone learns the importance of vulnerability! You will be surprised by the amount of support you might get from your friends and family. 

I hate to be the typical “live laugh love” gal but sometimes you really just have to live laugh love! Life is so precious and valuable that if you do not choose joy, you might miss the beautiful parts of life. Sometimes I may feel stuck in a weird headspace or my mind fills up with negative thoughts but I have learned to choose to be joyful when times get hard. Even when I am out with friends and negative thoughts creep in, I have learned to choose to stay in the moment and not let anything pass. 

I learned that no matter where I am in life, it is important to have friends beside you to experience precious moments with. The power of friendship is the most magical relationship I have encountered. The amazing friends that I have met in my teen years and that I will continue to grow with, in my twenties, are friendships that I have only seen in movies. I wouldn’t have been able to go through college without the amazing friendships that I have made- all the good and bad times that we have all experienced has taught me to always have someone by my side to go through this crazy life!

4. God Will Guide You

This one is a hard one for me to understand at times. When life gets tough it’s hard to believe that God has planned those tough times to happen so I can learn from them. The best feeling is knowing that God will be there to guide me through my tough times in the next decades and will provide joy in all of the good times I experience. I know that he has great things in store in this new chapter and I can’t wait to see what they are!

5. Your Presence Is Wanted

An important lesson I learned from one of my best friends is that everyone can feel needed in life but it’s better to feel wanted. No matter where my twenties bring me, I hope that I continue to feel valued and wanted. 

For a LONG time, I was scared of my feelings. Whenever I felt sad, I always felt the need to push those emotions away. However, after going to therapy, I learned that it is important to feel sad so you can let happiness in. 

7. Adventure is Out There!

I had so many amazing travel experiences in my teen years! I went on my first airplane ride when I was eighteen years old! Since then, I have been to New York, Tennessee, and even Costa Rica! I have had the opportunity to see different cultures and lifestyles outside of my California bubble. Adventure is definitely out there if you have the power to seek it! I can’t wait for more thrilling adventures that await! 

All for me, by me, and to me. This decade has been a hard but exciting one and I can’t wait to see what 20 brings. Thank you to my teens for giving me some of the best years of my life. Now for the roaring 20’s!