10 more days until i turn twenty two! (play 22 by taylor swift). 21 was a wild ride, but i'm excited to see what 22 brings to the table for me.
anyway, this is going to be a long post, a long list of things to know before turning 22. if you read all the way down here, thank you for bearing with me. i hope that it resonates with you and makes you think and gain some good insights from it.
1. there is a lot of negativity in the world, the last thing you need is more negativity. be good to your soul. show yourself more kindness, love, and grace.
2. celebrate yourself. celebrate how far you have come even it's the littlest bit.
3. no situation or problem is permanent in life. it's going to work out in the end. trust the process.
4. no one will help you more than you can help yourself. if you want something to happen, get off your ass and make it happen. opportunities don't just fall from the sky.
5. worrying gets you nowhere. it's pointless. so just shift your focus and control what you can control.
6. if something doesn't make you happy anymore, stop doing it, leave it, let it go.
7. you don't have it all together and it's fine. it takes time to create your journey in life.
8. you are both a student and a teacher. you will never stop learning.
9. love is not running out of style. there's no need to rush. your love life is not a competition.
10. be your own best friend. you can't expect too much from the best friends of yours.
11. not crossing off everything on your to-do list is okay.
12. it's okay to be both introverted and extroverted. you don't have to feel like you have to fit into a mold of anything or anyone.
13. always spend some time having a deep, heart-to-heart talk with someone you love.
14. your education doesn't define you.
15. having a journal is not bullshit. having a gratitude list is not a waste of time.
16. it's okay to be high maintenance.
17. let your curiosity grow and open to new possibilities
18. you are on your own timeline
19. always listen to your guts
20. it's your life, live it the way you want to
21. enjoy solitude, don't rely on anybody, and learn to like your own company
22. i'm in competition with no one but myself
despite all the pressures that growing older comes with, i try to convince myself that there's a silver lining to this and focus on growing and reflecting as much as possible. i still have a long way to go, but she's progressing! i will continue tapping into a better version of myself, be more confident on my own skin, try various things, and always celebrate small wins.
xoxo, A.