17 Life Lessons You Owe It To Yourself To Learn While Growing Up

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1. You have to work hard for what you want in life in order to succeed.

Just because you just graduated from college and you’re not exactly working at your “dream job”, that’s totally normal and you’re not alone (Those who are, by the way, I am totally jealous of you. You got your shit together!).

2. No one is perfect.

Stop comparing yourself to other girls on Instagram. No matter how perfectly toned her abs are, everyone has their own problems. Being incredibly fit doesn’t always mean you’re healthy. The sad truth is that we now live in a world with unrealistic beauty standards. Embrace your natural beauty.

3. Your group of friends in high school won’t keep in touch.

The ugly truth that no one told me in high school is that, most likely, the close group of friends you hung out with every Friday night in high school will drift apart. That being said, don’t ignore the efforts of someone trying to keep in touch. They value your friendship and those people are few and far between.

4. Always think before you speak.

It really helps you from sounding like a real jackass.

5. Breakups don’t have to be horrible.

Stay friends with the boy you broke up with that never did anything wrong to you. He set the standards for how you deserved to be treated and there’s something to be said about that. He was the best friend I ever had. You’ll regret losing someone that changed your life completely.

6. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

When you look back on life though, the menial things don’t matter.

7. Balancing is key.

I learned this from my favorite English teacher in high school. College is the best 4 years of your life. But, remember the main reason why you’re going to college in the first place: to set a foundation for success. Don’t throw it all way. College gave me a little glimpse into how to balance fun and work, and putting my priorities in order.

8. Don’t always put your boyfriend before your friends.

Boys will come and go but your girls will always be there no matter what.

9. College matures you.

College is a bunch of kids growing up together while trying to figure out life. You quickly learn the ability to multitask and how to live with people who aren’t your siblings.

10. Money doesn’t buy happiness.

The most successful people in life are successful because they go to work everyday doing what they love.

11. Nothing good happens after 2 a.m.

How I Met Your Mother taught me this one. Don’t try to drunk FaceTime your ex. Just don’t. Doesn’t end well.

12. Who my real friends are.

Quality is so much better than quantity. I would rather have 5 best friends than 15 fake ones.

13. You gotta kiss a few frogs.

What’s meant to be will always find its way. (How cliché!) Enjoy being single and date around a bit. It’s your 20’s so live it up because life is just getting started!

14. If someone cheats on you, dump their ass and move on.

Dump that guy who got drunk at their college formal and took some other chick home. Being cheated on changes you. Heartbreak makes you wiser and stronger in future relationships. It’s up to you to show the rest of the world how you want and deserved to be treated. If someone is not giving you respect, walk. Also, you’re way prettier than her and remember that karma is a bitch.

15. Your parents will love you unconditionally.

Admit it, sometimes we put our parents through hell and back because of our dumb mistakes. Be open and honest with them because they will always have your back.

16. Being the youngest sibling has its perks.

During the years of watching our older siblings try (*cough* fail) to be sneaky as teenagers, we were taking mental notes. Therefore, we youngsters were always one step ahead. We were sometimes annoying only because we always wanted to play with them and their friends, learn from them, and get their approval. Most of all, we are perfect secret keepers.

17. There is no point in looking back.

You know the phrase, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”. Be optimistic about the future. Let go from the things that are dwelling you and move on. You can’t change the past. Odds are, those things have made you a better person.