21 Things I've Learned in My 21 Years

Yesterday was my 21st birthday! Something I've been looking for a couple of years now, not really because I want to legally drink, but because every single one of my friends is over 21 and sometimes I feel left out when everyone's ordering Margaritas and I can't even if I wanted to! Since I have class from 9-7 today, I didn't go too crazy last night, just some fun with my closest friends. I still am not quite used to being away from my family on my birthday but Kayla always works really hard to make me feel special.

For the past 21 years I've learned a lot. I've been through some things, learned a lot, hurt a lot and been really, really happy. Here's some things I learned that I think you should too.

1. Be your complete self. For years I felt like I couldn't be who I am. Once I met Kayla and came out, I feel like now I can really be who I want to be and not hold back! 
2. Don't do anything you don't want to do. Life is too short to go to parties you don't want to go to, to read books you don't care to finish, and stay up late if you would rather go to bed. 
3. Friends can be toxic. They could be your best friend in the entire world, but sometimes, you have to realize they're toxic and they need to be let go. I learned this the very, very hard way. 
4. Being an adult is really not fun at all. When I was younger I couldn't wait to go to college, get some freedom, move in with Kayla and have my own place. Yeah, it sucks. Just this week I've had to make sure utilities and the internet was paid for, Koda got her heart worm medicine, renew my license, I've turned 21 and can buy my own drinks, and rent is due in a couple of days. All of this while going to school and working. NOT FUN. DON'T GROW UP IT'S A TRAP. 
5. Don't slack when it comes to school. When I was in high school, I didn't really try my first two years. Then my Junior and Senior year I realized I really wished I would have done better. then last semester I got really behind and it was not fun. If you're still in school, it's important to give it all you have or you'll regret it. 
6. Reading is beneficial. I love reading. I really don't have the time to read during the school year. But I really try to read a little bit before I go to bed. It really calms me down and it can get my mind off of the stressful day. 
7. Some people will never change. This kind of goes back to the "friends can be toxic". You might think that after this fight, your friend or your partner will change this time. While it's possible that people will take your issues to heart. However, sometimes people really just can't help who they are. 
8. You will always need your mom and dad. A lot of people really want to just leave their homes and become super independent and pay for everything themselves and not need their parents for anything. That's usually not the case. There's nothing better than going home to a home cooked meal and a hug from your mom. 
9. There's nothing more pure than a animal's love. At home we have two cats and I love them to death. However, I've never had a dog. When I got Koda I didn't realize just how much a dog can love you. And most of the time, animals are nicer than people. 
10. You're not the only one struggling. Everyone is struggling. Whether you're doing bad in school, suffering from depression or you have no idea what to do with your life, you're not the only one. 
11. Yoga isn't just for middle aged women. Trust me on this one. I really thought that the only people that did yoga were old women. But after I tried it once, I was hooked. The benefits are crazy. 
12. Forgive but don't forget. Forgiving people is good for your mental state. It's not healthy for you to be holding grudges. However, if someone really hurt you, don't forget it. I've learned that you have to proceed with caution when it comes to people who have hurt you before. 
13. Love yourself. This is one of the most important things that I've learned in the past few years. You won't be happy, you won't feel good and you won't succeed if you don't love yourself. That doesn't mean that you have to be happy with everything about yourself. However, you can still accept yourself and learn to love your flaws. 
14. Gossip and drama is ridiculous. Avoid it at all costs. It will only make you angry. 
15. Not everyone parties in college. I can personally attest to that. I thought when you went to college, you go crazy. That's definitely the case for some people, it wasn't for me, and a lot of the people I'm friends with, they don't party either. I go to ECU. It's supposed to be this crazy party school. However, you can definitely avoid them if you don't want to go. I prefer to stay in, gorge on junk food, and watch movies. You can too. Don't feel pressured. 
16. Failing makes you better. Both literally and figuratively. I failed math last semester and it SUCKED. It was the literal worst. But now I'm more determined than ever to do great this semester. 
17. You don't miss out on things when you're in a relationship. When I tell people I'll be dating Kayla for 5 years in November they assume that I don't do anything and that I'm missing out on things. I'm definitely not. No, I'm not going to bars and picking up people. But that's not who I am. I'm having a different kind of college experience and I love it. 
18. It's okay to ask for help. I often have this mentality of "I can do everything". I'll get home from working from 9-6 and start cooking dinner and cleaning. I know all I have to do is ask Kayla to help but sometimes I feel like that's giving up. But, it will make you absolutely insane if you try and do everything without help. 
19. Get over jealousy. When Kayla and I first started dating, we were super jealous of everything. Why are you talking to this person? Where are you going? Now, some girl could be flirting with her in front of my face and I will barely flinch. Be comfortable enough in yourself and your relationship to not be jealous. This goes for being jealous of people who are prettier, smarter, etc. Being jealous isn't going to get you anywhere. It's only going to drag you down. 
20. If you don't like something, it's up to you to change it. This can go with anything. If you feel like you could lose a few pounds, and you're really unhappy, take it upon yourself to set up a few hours a week to workout. If you don't like your grades, work harder to study. If you don't like your position at your job, make moves to move on up. 
21. Tell your loved ones how much you love them. No matter what the current situation is, tell the people you love that you love them. You never know what is going to happen, so take advantage of it when you can. 

What have you learned so far in your life?

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