23 1/2 Things I Learned at 23 1/2
Some days I go to work and learn to steer a canoe in 40 degree weather with a 101 degree fever. And while we were taking turns learning, I stared lovingly up at the new stunt trainees and contemplated life. I realized that last month I turned 23 1/2 (WHAAAAAT?!?!? #old) and I thought about all that's happened since I wrote that first little number about 23 things I learned at 23. SO (dun dun dun duuuuuuun) here are 11 1/2 things I learned at 23 1/2: 1) Don't hang your happiness on someone else's coat hook Remember when you were in Kindergarten and everyone had a name above their coat hook or cubby, and you got SO pissed when someone hung their shit up where your's was supposed to go? Or how confused you were when you realized, pre-recess, your stuff wasn't where you thought you left it? It's kinda the same concept. Be a little selfish. Focus on what makes you happy, do things that will make you a better person in your own eyes; stop thinking about how those things will look to your friends (especially a significant other, or worse, a previous significant other). Still trying to take my own advice on this one. 2) Dive into work Everybody in their early 20s is like, "Fuck work! Travel! Be poor!" Trust me. You can still be poor and work a lot *cough* student loans *cough* rent *cough*. When you're young and healthy, you should fully immerse yourself in your job, give it your all, because you need to learn whether this is going to be your long term job, or just a stepping stone. If you don't take your job seriously, how could you ever answer that question? 3) You went to Georgia. YOU BETTA WERK, GIRL! So this one is a little more specific, but can be generalized if I try hard enough. Georgia, for me, was going somewhere WAY out of my comfort zone and totally terrifying for a multitude of reasons. But I did it. And I'm fucking proud of myself. I took a chance. I explored (physically and emotionally). I got infected by zombies. Jesus gave me a big ol hello. It left me feeling lost and found at the same time. But I bought the tickets and I went. Go to your Georgia. 4) You want to go right? Steer right This is probably the most recently and basic lesson I've learned. Not everything has to be complicated. Sometimes you gotta just go with the current and stick the paddle down only when you really need to. 5) Holidays are meant for family Whether it's Friendsgiving or a traditional family Christmas, flock to your family. Holidays are meant to be a happy time, don't let it be anything otherwise. 6) Nice boys are nice Nice boys aren't always the most "fun" to date...at first. Bad boys are so exciting! You love them one day and totally hate them the next; the passion is addicting! But when you're down about all the drama the bad boy is causing, the nice boy passes by you at work, notices something is off and offers to help. You tell him that you just wanna sit at home, eat cookies, drink wine and watch a movie, so he shows up at your apartment later with all of the fixings to bake your favorite cookies, a cheaper bottle of wine, and a big ol smile on his face. Yea...nice boys are nice. That means a lot. 7) Get crafty, basic bitches Crafting has become a huge stress reliever for me lately. And I love it. From painting to tearing books apart to make cute e-reader covers, creating something with my own two hands? There's something awesome to be said for that. 8) Rey. Poe Dameron. Finn. Kylo Ren. Just that. Star Wars. It's life. 9) Never be complacent The moment you become stagnant in your friendships, relationships, job, etc. is the moment you fail 20-somethings around the world. This is our time! Our time to fuck things up, take over the world, join a work softball team even though we don't "sports". You gotta do this shit now while you still have an excuse. Don't waste it. 10) Ghosts of your past self will pop up more and more. Don't let them haunt you. This kind of goes hand in hand with #11, but I wanted to give it an extra little shoutout. It deserves it. Finalmente.... 11 1/2) It's okay not to be okay This one is a half because I'm definitely still working on it. An old friend of mine from high school posted this article she had written all about how we need to accept that we don't have to be fine all the time; easier said than done, kids. I've been trained to suck it up, not to show weakness, life isn't that bad so don't act like it is. I know that maybe that's not the healthiest strategy, but it's not something I can change over night. Taking down the stone walls I've built up is going to take time, and anyone that I open up to who isn't willing to stick around long enough to let me do that, isn't worth my time either. It definitely hurts (a lot more than I would let on) to see one of the few I've let in, walk out so frequently, and I'm not ready to let go. But if I'm not moving fast enough for them, maybe I should let them keep on running. So there y'all have it. I'm much too tired/still fighting off this fever to edit this right now, but I'm posting it cause I just don't give a fuck. Till next time ✌🏻️
