In honor of my 26th birthday this past Saturday (better late than never right?!) I took the initiative to think of 26 things that I have learned/realized in my 26 years of life. 26 things that I wish I could tell my younger self. To be completely honest it was pretty tough to come up with 26 that weren't either a.) completely overbearing b.) mortifying or c.) hilarious but so inappropriate to put in writing! I'm sure that many of you can relate to most if not all of these. If not, then maybe you can learn a thing or two from my mistakes!
1. It's okay to be stupid and make mistakes. It's what you do after those mistakes that matters most.
2. You don't always have to get the last word in. It's okay to agree to disagree. Let things go.
3. Love is hard. Marriage is hard. It's not always rainbows and butterflies. It's never like the movies. You have to be willing to compromise, give and take, let things go, bite your tongue, and love unconditionally. Every argument, every tear shed, every sleepless night -- it's worth it. Nothing is better than knowing you have someone by your side every step of your way though life.
4. $150 jeans aren't as cool as you thought they were once you have to start paying for them yourself.
5. Exes are your Exes for a reason. Best you just leave it that way.
6. You will have mid "mid-life" crises. Yes, plural. You will have more than one and they will not be pretty or graceful, but you'll pull through.
7. Be true to yourself. Don't compromise your integrity for someone else.
8. You are going to lose touch with many of your friends. That's life. You grow apart. You will come to realize that the ones you are left with are the ones that you need most.
9. You will lose someone you love. It's inevitable. And it's harder than you ever thought it could be.
10. You are going to get your heart broken. Probably more than once. You're going to think its the end of the world, but you'll survive. I promise.
11. For every thing you try and succeed there will be 5 things you try and fail, miserably. That's okay though as long as you pick yourself back up and keep pushing forward.
12. In order to see your friends, you will actually have to TRY to see your friends.
13. Almost everything that you thought mattered -- it doesn't. As you get older you will realize the things that matter most in life. Almost none of them will be the same as they were in your teenage years.
14. Some people are just toxic. You know it the second you meet them. Avoid them like they plague before they suck you in too.
15. No matter what you do or how you do it there will always be someone who disagrees or disapproves. Realizing you can't make everyone happy will be one your best revelations.
16. You're opinion of "fat" will change. If you're "high school you" could see you right now they would probably freak the hell out. But "current you" knows it's okay and completely normal to not be a size 2 anymore.
17. It's okay to cry. Even if it's for no reason at all. Just let it out. You'll feel much better after.
18. Trust you're gut feelings. They may not ALWAYS be right. But they will be 99% of the time.
19. Taking yourself too seriously is just as bad as not taking yourself serious enough. Lighten up a little.
20. Everything about your teenage years will embarrass you. The way you dressed... your hairstyle, best to just burn any and all photographic evidence. Except your prom pictures, you can keep those.
21. You're parents were right. About everything.
22. Don't speak out of anger. Count to 10, put a sock in your mouth, bite your tongue, whatever works best to prevent you from either making things even worse or hurting someone you care about.
23. You will become you're mother. But that's okay. She raised YOU, right?
24. At some point you're going to be broke. It's never a bad idea to stock up on Ramen.
25. The ability to make hamburger helper and mac and cheese are not cooking skills and eventually you are going to have to learn how to cook an adult meal. If not for yourself then for your partner. Dylan has suffered many a burnt meals because of my lack of cooking skills.
26. Complaining gets you nowhere. Complaining about a situation or person will not change the circumstances. It only makes you look like a negative person. No one wants to be around negativity.
Is there anything you have learned in your years that isn't on my list? If so, let me know! I'd love to hear about your revelations!
xoxo, Brittiany
