19 things I learned before I turned 19
1. If you feel sad, let yourself be sad. Seriously. It's ok to be upset, it's not ok to stop yourself from feeling things that are raw and painful and BAD.
2. Seeing a therapist is not shameful and doesn't make you any less of a person. Be proud of yourself for knowing when you need to ask for help.
3. You need learn how to be content alone. There's gonna be days where your only company is yourself, and you need to be able to handle that. Learn to be independent, because you will never be happy if you have to rely on others all the time.
4. Love HURTS. In the movies, it's amazing, and incredible, and everyone is happy all the time. In reality, it's messy, and painful, and some days all you can do is sit on the floor and cry, because the person you love is hurting and there's nothing you can do about it. But it's worth it. I promise you it's worth it. All those hours of pain are worth the beaming smiles, the whispered I love yous, and the way they look at you like you're their whole world. It's worth it.
5. Never ever let someone else determine your self worth, your future, or your value, no matter what. Never let someone else do things to you that you aren't comfortable with, ever.
6. Nothing lasts forever, good or bad. Look at where you were a year ago, and then look at where you are now. I bet most of what you worried about resolved itself, and those problems you feared would never go away? I bet you got through them. Either way, I'm proud of you.
7. The best stories are usually the ones you can't tell your parents, at least not until it's been long enough that you can't get in trouble anymore.
8. Take care of yourself. I can't stress this enough. Learn how to care for your body, how to make sure you're healthy and well fed and rested. Everything is easier when you feel good.
9. Some people aren't gonna like you, and that's ok. If you waste all your time trying to please other people, you'll never be happy. Be your best self, and if someone doesn't like you, you don't need them.
10. Be honest. To yourself, your friends, your significant other, your parents, your teachers, and so on. It might be hard at first, but it's better in the long run.
11. Spend time with your family. You might rather spend time with your friends, but once you live away from your family, you'll wish you spent more time with them.
12. Pet as many cats and dogs as you can. There's no such thing as too many.
13. Find something you like, whether it's reading or hiking or people watching, and don't ever give it up.
14. Life isn't easy, and anyone who says it is is either lying or very very lucky.
15. Be grateful. Realize that you have many things in your life to be grateful for, and never take any of it for granted.
16. Living with a roommate is hard, but it's something everyone needs to do. If you can't learn to share a space with another person, you're gonna have a really hard time.
17. Learn when to say no, especially to a friend. Stick up for yourself, and never be afraid to tell them when they cross a line.
18. Treat your body like the most precious thing in the whole world, and decorate is as you please. Never let someone else control what you do with your own body.
19. Love yourself. Love your body, your mind, your spirit. Find all the things that make you beautiful, all the flaws, all the insecurities, the things you don't think deserve to be loved, and love them. You are beautiful, you are incredible, and you are worthy of all the love the world has to offer.
