23 Things I’ve Learned in 23 Years

Today I turned an underwhelming twenty-three years old. Twenty-three is the first of many years that no one is too thrilled about turning. The fizzle and pizzazz of the big milestone firsts have dwindled away. I am no longer an inexperienced driver, or a new legal adult, or a drunken stupor out of a bar, or of the grand Taylor Swift age.

I don’t ever get hung up on lucky numbers or superstitious numerics, but despite its lack of thrill, being twenty-three has always seemed like a good number to be. I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s the way the double “ee” noise hums in your throat after the word is over or how the sharp cut of the “ty” meets the gentle thud of the “th” sound. Whatever it is, I’ve always liked how the number twenty-three felt in my mouth. It’s got some umph to it. It doesn’t sound as measly and naive as twenty or twenty-one.  Saying that I am twenty-three just has a good ring to it.

In honor of my non-special age change, I’ve assembled 23 things that I have learned in the past 23 years. This list was honestly really hard to narrow down to just 23 things. If I could I would have a list of 73. Which supports the theory that I’m actually a 73 year old woman trapped in a 23 year old’s body 😀

But ANYWAYS here they are!

1. Know your worth.

   A year ago someone told me, “You are the prize. You have to remember that.” and it really resonated with me. The second you forget that you are the prize you start allowing others to forget your value as well. 

2. Stop being sorry all the damn time.                                                                                              

3. Dance. Dance always.                                                                                                                      

4.  You do not have to like everyone.

   This isn’t elementary school anymore. If you don’t click with someone no one is forcing you to invest time into a friendship with them. You can be kind, but not be friends with someone. Keep your peace and stay away from those who disrupt it. 

5. Find your comfort zone and then get yourself out of it as much as possible.                      

6. Don’t try to force others to be ready for you.

   You’re going to be too much for some people. You can’t force them to be ready for you. If you’re too much for them, they’re too little for you.                                                    

7. Stop trying to plan every little thing.                                                                                                                               

8. If someone doesn’t want to be in your life, let them leave.

   Do not beg anyone to stay.  Simple as that.                                                                                                                                                                                       

9. Everyone just looks like they know what they are doing, but no one actually knows.                                                                                                      

10. Believe in yourself.

    Use your voice, say how you feel, and stand your ground. You are not a punching bag or a punch line.                                                                                                                         

11. Your heart is going to get broken.

    And it is going to suck and you’re going to hurt and cry, but then you will heal. Some of the most beautiful things come from pain and grief. Let your heart be broken and then let it heal beautifully.                                                                                                                           

12. Know what you want & make a damn decision.                                                                                                              

13. Have a skincare routine.

    Actually, scratch that. Have a self-care routine.                                                                                                                      

14. Breathe.

    Some things are out of your control. There is no point stressing constantly over everything. Things will work out and what doesn’t will leave space for better things to work out. Be patient.                                                                                                                 

15.  Chase the things that grab your heart and throw your whole soul into them.

    Some people are born knowing what their passions are. Others spend their whole lives trying to figure it out. Its okay if it takes you a while to figure out what your heart loves, but once you find it don’t let another minute go by without it.

    

16. Stop always wishing for the next best thing.

    If you are always wishing for the next best thing, you will spend your life wishing for nothing because there will always be a new next best thing. Stop wishing your life away.                           

17. Never stop learning.                                                                                                                                                        

18. Try to see the good and be the good and do the good.                                                          

19.  Be open to the new and the different and to change. Take risks.                                                                                                          

20. Make time for family and make time for friends that feel like family.                                                                                                              

21. Comparison will actually kill you, so please, please, please stop.  

    

22. Love yourself.

    

23. Live. Be bold and honest and crazy and heard.                                                                                                                                             

Love always,