21 Things I’ve Learned in 21 Years

Happy Monday Everyone!

This past weekend I got to celebrate my 21st birthday and I’m so thankful and blessed for the love I received from all of my family and friends. Every year I get overwhelmed with the amount of messages I get, considering I expect maybe a text from my mom but that’s really it, so I just wanted to express all of the gratitude I felt here I guess.

But all of this aside, I wanted to type up a quick little post about all of the most important things I’ve learned over the last 21 years of my life. Some of them are silly but some are game changers and I hope I can share a little slice of that with you all today, so let’s just get right on in! (:

1. Liking a boyband will change your life for the better

As most of you know by now, I’ve been a die-hard One Direction fan for the last like 7 years of my life. Yeah, people might make fun of them but let me tell you they’ve made me so many friends and have gotten me through some really tough days.

So who cares if people think they’re “lame” or just another phase. If it makes you happy, that’s what matters!

2. Stay in contact with people

You are never too good for anyone. I never want to be the person from high school who pretends they don’t remember you when you run into each other at a grocery store AND I never want to be the person who left everyone behind for bigger and better people.

You never know who will be who in the future and it’s always a good thing to remember where you came from. It’s humbling and a good practice just in general: Make connections and keep them!

3. Without ever expecting it, you will stumble across the love of your life

Some of you might know that I don’t always love the school I go to, but the silver lining through it all has been finding my boyfriend, Seth.

I never expected to be in a relationship. I mean I’ve been single for the last like 5 years, but without even knowing it, Seth and I were just in the right place at the right time and we fell in love.

So enjoy the time you are single and don’t waste time complaining. The universe works in strange ways and when the right person walks into your life, things just click and it all falls into place, all you have to do is trust. (:

4. New York City is the end goal

Similar to the theme above, there are some things in life that will just click for you. And for me? That’s New York.

Having an end goal is so important because it motivates me every single day to keep striving for more. It reminds me that what I’m doing is for a purpose and it keeps me excited for that dream to come true one day!

5. Travel. Travel. Travel.

I can’t say this one enough. Travel. Pick up pieces of culture from everywhere. It’s priceless and eye-opening and just plain old fun. If you get the chance to go abroad, take it. It might be scary but don’t wait until it’s too late and you’re filled with regret. It’s just not worth it.

6. Maybe being an adult one day is not the worse thing that can happen?

For years, I pushed back against traditional things girls dreamed about one day. I didn’t want to get married or have kids or own a house. Just be carefree. But now, maybe it isn’t so bad to think about having a family one day. Having realizations like this are good, and I think they are positive pushes and remind me that I’m growing up, but still have so much to look forward to and a whole story to still create.

7. You can’t possibly make everyone happy

This is a hard one. For years I would put others in front of myself until I realized that maybe the reason I was so unhappy was because I never did anything for myself.

Sometimes you just have to worry about yourself first. You can spend days trying to make someone happy, but sometimes it still just won’t be enough. So realize that now, and start worrying about you. You’ll thank yourself for it.

8. Be unapologetically yourself

I know this is one you probably hear a lot but it is so so true. Surround yourself with people who accept and believe in you, and also do some soul searching to find that love within yourself. You’ll be happier and the energy that radiates from you will be amazing and powerful (:

9. Push yourself (within reason, of course)

We all know what we can and cannot handle. But if there is something you’re dying to do, just take the leap of faith and see where the road takes you. For example, this blog! I never in a million years thought this could become a reality, but here we are today, and I couldn’t be happier!

True, it isn’t always easy. Sometimes I struggle with content or time to sit down and write something that is quality but in the end, I push through it to make a dream come true and I try to apply this strategy to other aspects of my life as well!

10. Sometimes you just need to blast some Kanye and dance around your room

Life gets overwhelming sometimes, it just is how it is. But when that happens, take a break and spit some lyrics to Kanye’s ‘Stronger’ and I promise you will feel like 100x better!

11. Deadlines run the world

Take them seriously. I had a professor say this in class once and it really resonated with me. This will force you to take responsibility, which is never a bad thing and a legit life skill that you can carry with you forever. The world never stops turning and it won’t stop for you.

12. Be kind.

If y’all take anything from this, please take this. Be kind. It is so powerful and the least you can do. It takes such little effort to smile, wave, or start a conversation with someone. It might mean the world to them, seriously.

13. Love your environment and its little animal companions

I’m not like a total green freak or anything, but be kind to your environment. It does so much for us, at the very least you could not throw your trash all over it. Like the Lorax so infamously said, “UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

Also respect its furry friends. They live in unison with us and we destroy so much of their habitats every. single. day. True, you can’t make them a pet, but don’t go out of your way to terrorize them either. Please and thank you.

14. Take time for yourself (AKA, Treat Yo’self.)

Similar to the Kanye West moment mentioned above, if you just need to take some time to watch the new episode of Project Runway, take it.

It will give you some stress relief and you won’t regret it. Obviously don’t take this to the extreme and marathon watch Riverdale or something, because deadlines and responsibilities, but the moral of the story is that it’s okay to take time for yourself.

15. But also study for that really big exam that is coming up next week

Too often have I pushed off studying for an exam and then regret it the minute I get my grade back. No, your intelligence is not defined by a number but when it starts to threaten your chances of getting into a graduate school or internship, it is not worth the added stress.

So study and ask questions (I’m typing this as a reminder for myself).

16. Go see live entertainment and be present!

This is another thing that a teacher is high school once said. So often you go to a concert and people only care about recording it and capturing the perfect moment on their phones, but then you realize that no one is actually living in the moment and just enjoying all of the awesome talent.

So challenge yourself when you go to your next concert to not bring your phone out more than a certain amount of times and I promise you will enjoy the experience so so much more.

17. Let yourself feel your emotions

Before coming to college, I never cried, but since being here I think I’m definitely more in tune with my emotions, which believe it or not is a good thing.

I still don’t like to cry because it makes me feel weak but it definitely is a healthy form of release and allowing myself to fulling come into those emotions has been extremely helpful to my overall mental health.

18. Golden retrievers are the best dogs ever ever ever!

Not ironically, I had to put this one as number 18. The first golden retriever I had had his birthday on the 18th of September and he was the start of this never ending obsession.

These dogs are so lovable and fluffy and just everything you could possibly want in a dog. They’re smart and have personality and I really can’t say enough good things about them. So if you want to become golden retriever crazy like I am, all you need to do is own one and you’ll be hooked for life.

19. Drive your car safely..

This is one I recently learned. I’ve had a car ever since having a permit (fortunately, I might add), and within the last three years it has really taken a beating. I’ve not been gentle on it by any means and just this past week it decided to take its last drive with me.

The moral of this story is that I really loved that car and definitely took it for granted. And maybe if I had been nicer to it, it would have lasted me longer, but yet just another lesson learned, right?

20. Tell your friends and family that you appreciate them

They don’t hear it enough, and that’s a fact. I think that being away from my best friend and family while I’m at college really puts that into perspective. Let them know every once in a while that you love and really appreciate them and I’m sure it will go a long way!

21. Keep an open and accepting mindset

Last but certainly not least is the daily reminder to take everything one day at a time. Don’t sweat the small stuff and don’t be petty. Keep your mind open because you never know what you might be missing otherwise. Be willing to learn from others and listen and although you might have disagreements, be open ideas and maybe even grow from them.

This is something I have to work for daily, but is really important and something I want to focus on in this 21st year of life.

What are some things you all have learned in your lifetime? Hope every one is having a great and productive week, but..

Until next time,

xx.Britani Skye

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