If you haven’t heard Frankie Ballard’s song “Young and Crazy,” we highly suggest that you do. There is far more meaning to the song than simply being young and crazy. Frankie says in the song “How am I ever gonna get to be old and wise if I ain’t ever young and crazy?” To give good, reliable advice, you need to experience what you’re advising firsthand. Being old and wise means that you lived a full and eventful life that you are able to share lessons and stories about.
1. Make mistakes and learn from them. It’s acceptable to let loose once in a while (or most weekends) while you’re young. You will make mistakes – many, many mistakes – but you will also learn the most valuable lessons. Don’t fret on the negatives. Instead, dwell on the positives. Out of every mistake you make, comes a great story to tell in the future.
2. Travel. Travel a lot. Life can be boring in the same place. There is so much to see and learn outside of your daily life, and traveling doesn’t require luxurious and expensive vacations. It could be a road trip with your best friends or a standby ticket to Europe while staying in inexpensive hostiles. The experiences you gain, the people you meet and the new ideas you learn from these adventures are priceless. Don’t let money hold you back.
3. Be spontaneous. Planning every minute of your life can get tiring. A surprise here and there (or all the time, as we like) is a must. If you wake up one morning and decide you want a tattoo, do it. If you’ve been planning to stay in and relax this weekend, but your girlfriends insist you go out with them, ditch your bed and Netflix to make it a night to remember – even if you didn’t have two days to plan your outfit.
4. Take every great opportunity offered to you. “Great moments are born from great opportunities,” as said by Herb Brooks, so be sure to take advantage when a good one arises. Take it and don’t look back.
5. Kiss a lot of lips; date a lot of people. Marrying the first person you date may work for some, but finding the right person typically takes some trial and error. If this means testing the water with more than a few people, that’s perfectly fine. You don’t want to be with the wrong person forever.
6. Take advantage of GNO’s. Relaxing movie nights are great when you need to spend the next day studying for a big exam or are just feeling run down, but limit them to once in a while. You only have this much energy for a short period of time and a limited number of years to enjoy little-to-no “grown up” responsibilities.
7. Regret absolutely nothing. Every decision you make had a reason behind it. Sadness and regret take too much negative energy. Accept situations for what they are and move forward. There is no way to change your past, so there is no valid reason to stress about it. Hannah Montana said it best: “Everybody makes mistakes, everybody has those days.” Now it’s time to accept them and move on.
8. Stand up for what you believe. Say what’s on your mind and express your feelings. Everyone has an opinion, so just because he or she doesn’t agree with yours, doesn’t make it wrong (and vice versa).
9. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Life is far more enjoyable when you let little annoyances pass. Your phone screen cracked? Oh well, it’s a material item and an easy fix. The guy you’re interested in doesn’t like you back? So be it. You’re better off without him anyway; not to mention, it’s no fun forcing feelings on someone who doesn’t feel the same about you. Most situations are out of your control, so channel your inner-Elsa to “Let It Go.”
10. Step out of your comfort zone. What stories will you have to tell if you never pushed yourself beyond your boundaries? You’re going to make mistakes, get hurt and occasionally face your fears. It may feel uncomfortable, but in the end you will feel accomplished and ready for anything.
All in all, living life to the fullest is easy if you don’t plan every detail and have an “it is what it is” attitude. Don’t shy out on great opportunities just because you’re nervous – take it and run like you own it.