21 Lessons I Learned in 21 Years
I've seen a lot of blog posts like this & I was very inspired to make my own based on my personal experiences!
Here are 21 Lessons I Learned in 21 Years:
1. Let the People in Your Life Know that You Love Them. EVERY DAY.
Life is crazy & you never know when it will be the last time you see someone & get to let them know that you love them. Never go to sleep angry with your S/O, tell your parents & friends that you love them after leaving a visit or having a simple talk over the phone.
2. Love Yourself.
I honestly struggle with this one every day but that's okay. I'm slowly learning to accept all of my flaws & imperfections because those features make me, me. Life is too short to spend every day focusing on what you wish you could change. Find the features you love the most about yourself & embrace them! Have confidence & you will look even more gorgeous that you already are!
3. Take Care of Yourself.
This may seem like common knowledge but this is a big one that a lot of people don't do. Simple things like washing your hair or shaving your legs can make an extreme difference in your mood. Look good, feel good.
Also, don't forget to take care of your mental health as well. Giving time to take care of yourself is not selfish & will help you live a longer/happier life in the long run.
4. Never Change Yourself for Anyone Else but You.
You will have people come into in your life who will try & change you because they'd prefer you a certain way. I promise you that you will find people who will embrace your quirks & love them more than anything else in the world. You are unique in your own beautiful way, don't ever let anyone feel like you are less & need to change.
5. Strive to be the Best You Can Be.
With that being said, if you feel that you should change something about yourself to help you be a better person, DO IT! We are always trying to better ourselves every day. Don't get frustrated, these changes won't happen overnight but you will find changes in yourself & in others when you start changing how you react to day to day situations. Be the best you that you can be!
6. Never Settle.
This might be my favorite lesson. I promise that you will find the people who will give you everything & more than you ever could have imagined. I've had multiple relationships where I thought they were good, until I met the man I'm with today. People who care about you will make sure to show you every day & never risk losing you. Never settle for less, EVER.
7. Do What Makes You Happy.
It doesn't matter if you're the best or if you're the most knowledgeable on a subject, if it makes you happy, DO IT! You will find improvements in yourself every year doing the things that you love. Filling your life with the things that make you your happiest is the best way to take care of yourself.
8. Be Kind.
"Hurt People, Hurt People". My mom taught me this from a very young age & it will always stick with me. If someone is hurting you, it is highly likely that they have gone through some hurt themselves & have no other way of expressing it except to unleash their pain onto others. Be kind & end the cycle. You never know what someone may be going through, so always help others in any way you can. Flash a smile at the least & I can guarantee it could make someones day.
9. Forgive.
This might be one of the hardest things to do after we've been hurt by a person. You don't even have to confront these people in your life to forgive them. Forgive these people for your sake & mental health. Forgiving people for yourself is one of the most enlightening things ever. Forgive. Learn. Move forward. Grow.
10. Stand Your Ground.
I am not a confrontational person at all but I've learned that if I'm being treated unjust, I say something. Don't let people walk all over you. If they can't apologize for hurting you it may be time to loosen ties. Don't let anyone degrade you or make you feel less. Stand up for yourself.
11. It Gets Better.
Another cliche saying that still holds true. These heartaches & pain you are suffering with now cannot compare to the beautiful things that will eventually come your way. It can be hard to deal with the "bad" parts of life. Breakups, Losing a Job, etc. All you can do is take it a day at a time. Take a breath, it will pass. How you choose to react to these situations can determine your results. Keep your head high & you will be golden.
12. Everything Happens For A Reason.
Following up my last lesson, everything in fact DOES happen for a reason. You know the saying, "When one door closes, another one opens."? That's what this means. What you are dealing with now is leading you to something positive. A breakup can lead you to your perfect match, losing your job could make you discover the thing you really want to do! It can sometimes be as small as a lesson learned that will help you make decisions later in life. There is ALWAYS a reason.
13. Have Adventures.
Explore the world we live in! Travel, even if it's just local! Discover something new! Having adventures with the people in your life make for wonderful memories to look back on, even if they aren't in your life anymore. You'll look back & be glad you did it. LIVE LIFE!
14. What's Meant To Be Will Be.
Sometimes the timing isn't right but what's meant to be will be. Love sadly isn't always enough to keep a relationship strong, the best you can do for each other is to let go of each other to be happy. You may lose someone & find them again a few years down the line & everything will be perfect. I guarantee that what's meant to be will not ever feel forced. Everything will fall into place the way it's meant to.
15. Not Everyone Will Like You.
As humans, all we ever want is to be loved & accepted but sadly that isn't always obtainable. Some people may not like you & that's okay!
16. Don't Let the Little Things Get to You.
Don't stress about the little things that won't even matter in a week. Vent about your situations & then let it go. Take things with a grain of salt & don't let it ruin your day!
17.Your Friends & Family Knows What's Best For You
Your friends & family will spot a toxic situation way sooner than you will. As humans we can tend to be too trusting & that can (sometimes) be dangerous. If someone close to you tells you that they have a bad feeling about a relationship or a sketchy meet up, trust them. They may help you out of something bad before it's too late.
18. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone.
When you get out of your comfort zone, you can find lots of things that you love that you wouldn't have normally gone for! Try that new authentic Latin place, try the latest fashion trend everyone seems to be wearing , talk to that person you're crushing on or even go zip lining! You might not always like everything you try but you'll at least be happy you did! Live your life to where you can say, "I tried everything!". Live your life without regrets.
19. Give People a Chance
Sometimes as humans, we're guilty of judging people & things before we give them a fair chance. Many people who I thought would be cold, actually ended up being some of the kindest souls I've ever met. Let people show you who they are before you decide what kind of person they are, you might be surprised!
20. Stay Positive
When we're angry about something happening in our lives, it's easy to fall down a hole of negativity. Find the positive in every issue you have in your life, don't let it make you a negative person. If you remind yourself that the glass is always half full, you will always be grateful & happy with what you already have.
21. You Are Important.
Someone will always need you. You will always be someone's something. A mom, daughter, friend, S/O, favorite coworker, etc. You will mean something to someone ALWAYS. NEVER forget that.
If you made it through, congratulations! I hope you take something from this because all I want to ever do is share as much advice as I can. If you ever need anything, I am always a message away for anyone! Thank you & I'll see you next time!
Photos by:
Lots of Love,
