[ 20 Things I Learned In 20 Years ]

Holy moly, I turn 21 in less than a year. I find it strange how you never feel as old as you think you should for your age. My first 20 years have had their ups and downs, but the things I've learned have helped me to get to where I am. Hopefully some of these life lessons can help someone else out too, so here are twenty things I've learned in my first 20 years.

1. Always put God first, cause at the end of the day, He's the best friend and protector anyone could ask for. He always listens, and loves without end, amen. 
2. Mom's usually know whats up, and they usually mean well, even if you don't realize it when you're younger
3. Never let your laundry go more than 2 weeks without being washed, even if its just for clean underwear
4. Working hard in school is always worth it. No matter what you want to be when you grow up, you need to succeed in school to get there. A few all nighters may be necessary, but thats what coffee is for
5. In addition to #4, SLEEP! Yes, you can never get back the hours that you're asleep, but you also can't get back the hours you wasted when you were too tired to do anything cause you stay up for no reason. Going to bed at a reasonable time is smart, it doesn't make you an old person. Heck, older people are usually very wise, so they must have a good reason for going to bed early.
6. Be loyal to those who have earned it, to your family and friends, but sometimes you can't stand by someone if they're doing the wrong thing. Sometimes even our best friends need tough love. 
7. Quantity of friends is not important, quality of friends is. I've learned the hard way that finding the few, maybe 4 or 5, people who really know you and love you unconditionally are worth more than anything, and its ALWAYS worth it to keep them in your life. Never lose touch with them, don't take them for granted, and make sure they know how much they mean to you every chance you can. They are the ones who will be there at 4 am when you need to talk or cry, so do the same for them. 
8. There's no such thing as normal 
9. You never know what's going on in someone else's life or head. Something may seem ridiculous to you, but it could seem like the end of the world to them. 
10. The things you own do not define who you are, but you shouldn't judge someone just because everything they have is high end, a purse is a purse, if someone wants to spend lots of money on something, that's their decision.  
11. Actions speak louder than words, go out of your way sometimes to show someone you care, don't just tell them every once in a while
12. Tell your loved ones "I love you" every chance you get. Whether its your family, significant other, or even best friends, its always good to let them know how you truly feel. You'll never regret saying it, but you will regret that one time you didn't and can only hope they know
13. Taking pictures to remember things is great, but don't get caught up behind a lens. Make sure you actually remember to live in the moment sometimes. You might not have a picture of what you did, but you may actually then do something. Don't instagram your life, live it. 
14. Keeping a journal is very beneficial, even if you only write in it every once in a while. Its a great way to vent/get your thoughts out, and looking back on it can teach you a lot about yourself. 
15. You should worry more about who you are on the inside than on the outside. No, don't be a slob, but being a good person will get you much farther in life than being the most good looking. 
16. Breakups are NOT the end of the world. You WILL get over it, and you WILL move on, and most likely you'll eventually grow and learn from it. My serious breakup was one of the best things to ever happen to me. I was able to work on myself and grow as a person, and at the very least, it puts you on the road to your soul mate. 
17. Staying in is often 10x better than going out, and sometimes making social sacrifices in order to do well in your classes, is without a doubt necessary. For instance, you'll never regret staying in and studying in order to get an good grade, but you will regret going out and getting a bad grade. 
18.  Love yourself, forgive yourself, and take care of yourself. This body and this life are the only ones you get. And never compare yourself to others, because everyone is different, and its only a dead end road of discontent and unhappiness.
19. Parents don't get enough credit for what they do, and they have this amazing, unconditional love that allows them to forgive you and support you no matter what. They know you're going to fall down sometimes, so they're usually more than willing to help you get back up. Being open and honest with them allows you to build a mutual trust, and makes life so much better and easier. 
20. Everything happens for a reason. 

"There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age."

Sophia Loren