21 Things You’re Sure To Learn By The Time You’re 21

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1. The friends you graduate high school with and the friends you graduate college with won’t be the same people.

Sure, you may have one or two that are still your ride or die, but the harsh reality of it is that when people grow up they tend to grow apart.

2. Your parents are always right.

Believe it or not, they’re right about everything. Anything from boys, school and even your friends. It’s like parents are blessed with some sixth sense or something.

3. Nothing good ever happens after 2AM.

I believe this one is pretty self-explanatory.

4. Life’s short, buy the shoes.

You know that those shoes are going to look amazing with your new Kate Spade purse. It’s going to be the talk of the night. It’s okay if by the end of the month your bank account has reached 51 cents and your living off of Ramen. It happens.

5. Not everyone is going to like you.

I have been known to be a people pleaser back in the day and I have quickly learned that in the real world, people pleasers may not will not survive. It’s okay if everyone doesn’t like your nerdy comments or your quirky personality; your friends do, and that is all that matters.

6. Live every day like it is your last.

Tomorrow is never promised. Mend bridges, drop grudges and move on in a more positive way. You never know what your last words to someone may end up being.

7. Getting out of your comfort zone.

Seriously it sucks, but it has been so rewarding. Do something you’ve never done, go somewhere where you don’t know anyone. It may be hard, but you get a lot of time to look at yourself and what you want to be.

8. Visit your family.

You may not want to, or you may despise going back to your hometown. But seeing the smiles on your family’s faces and their excitement to see you when you’ve been away is so incredibly worth it.

9. Pizza won’t kill you.

Pizza is the greatest thing ever invented. Order it. Even if it’s drunken 2am pizza, order it. You can never regret Pizza Hut’s stuffed crust.

10. Mistakes happen, daily.

Everybody makes mistakes, everybody has those days (Hannah Montana, thank you). Nobody is perfect. Whether it be screwing up a job interview, running out of gas because you kept saying you will “get it tomorrow” or hitting and skidding a curb with the entire right side of your semi-new car (still sorry dad). It happens. It’s life.

11. Stop living in the past.

Yes, it is crazy how fast time flies. It feels like I just graduated from high school and I’m about to graduate from college. However, stop stalking your old ex and reminiscing on what you thought was a great past and start paving your way for an even better future.

12. Your Instagram/Twitter likes and follows actually don’t matter.

It doesn’t matter how many likes you get on your Instagram photos, or if your friend has gotten more likes than you. Sure, you may have thousands of followers on Twitter…but are they really your friends? It is sad how succumbed we are to basing our worth on our Instagram likes and Twitter followers. News flash: they actually don’t matter. You don’t put it on your resume, so why live through your social media followers.

13. He’s really just not that into you.

If he’s being shady and hasn’t texted you back in days. Drop it. There is nothing wrong with you. He is simply not the one God has chosen for you to be with. You’ll thank Him later.

14. There will always be someone prettier than you.

When you’re young, you’re always told that you are the prettiest, but once you open your eyes to the real world you will realize there is always going to be someone prettier, skinnier and stronger than you. This is when you become aware and confident in your self-beauty given to you by The Lord through His image. It may be hard and take a while to get used to, but once you are confident in yourself you can conquer the world.

15. Your best friend becomes your rock.

Seriously. I am lucky enough to have had the same bff since first grade. I have no idea what I would do or where I would be without her. She is the only person that I trust with my life, and that knows me better than I know myself. I don’t know how she has put up with me for this long, honestly. I don’t even think I could be able to go through life’s simple tasks without her. Like the other day she had to help me put windshield wiper fluid in my car because I have never done it before (go ahead, judge away).

16. You can sleep when you’re dead.

This happens to be my favorite saying ever. If you ask any of my friends, they would tell you I value my sleep, but I value making memories more. I don’t mind staying out or staying up until 2am when I know I have to be at work before 7. Stay out late when you know you have to be up early. Go out when you know you probably shouldn’t be spending money. It’s worth it, you can’t buy your memories.

17. You are worth more.

You are worth more than that sleazy douche at the bar is trying to tell you. You are worth more than 2am booty calls. You are worth more than what you give yourself credit for. If we all could see ourselves as God sees us, maybe we could understand, even just a tiny bit, what we are really worth in the eyes of The Lord.

18. Time definitely does NOT heal all wounds.

Sure, it takes time to get over a lot of things and be able to move on. But there are just some things that are going to sit with you forever. It does not mean that you are not over it, it’s just something that the tiniest remembrance brings back all of the pain within seconds. You’ll always live with this pain, and that’s perfectly okay.

19. He is not worth it.

Being in a relationship means being equals and growing together. If he is trying to control your every move and tell you how to live your life, take a step back and reevaluate things, my dear. That is not a healthy love. He is not worth it if he is not challenging you every day to become a stronger, God-fearing woman and treat you as should be treated.

20. Workout.

You are what you put into your body. Go to the gym. Not for anyone else, but for you. The freshman fifteen is a very real thing and can be hard to lose. Keep yourself accountable in maintaining a healthy, positive lifestyle. You’ll appreciate it once you’re 30.

21. Life goes on.

Tomorrow is a new day. The things of yesterday are in the past. There is no need to dwell on them anymore. God has a plan for your life and all of the pieces will fall together in His time. Patience is a virtue, friends. It does not matter what you may be going through now, just know that you were given this life because you were strong enough to live it. The grass is always greener when you put your trust in The Lord and have faith in His plan for your life.