Brianne McDonald

It is such a struggle to be authentic. This cannot be just me.

2. Despite fawning over elaborate and extremely public proposal scenes, the idea of one actually happening to you in real life leaves you hyperventilating in something very akin to pure, unadulterated terror.

You rarely assume that you can know or understand someone at first meeting, or even the second, or third.

Tangled cords bring out the worst in everyone, especially if they happen to be Christmas lights.

Take the time to occasionally remember that your needs are important and if you don’t make them a priority, no one else will. Take the time to understand those needs, and actively pursue them.

3. In reality: sure, men seem to initially appreciate your laid back, easy going demeanor, but it actually ends up turning against you.

Inevitably we all will let someone, or several someone’s, into our hearts and souls and we won’t be able to get them out again.

When people first start dating, they tend to bring out the big guns. Think Javelin rocket launcher.

1. Have full conversations with my pets

I got a year older, and in typical Millennial fashion, it was a time of deep, meaningful reflection – written in the ever popular and highly polished fashion of the recently invented ‘listicle.’

3. Learn to be comfortable and actually enjoy doing things on your own.

I think we all pretty much understand that Hollywood embellishes and outright lies about a lot of things. Sex is no exception (it might even be the rule).

Don’t allow anyone else to define what success means for you. Not everyone is interested in starting their own company or working for some powerful corporation. Success is what you make it and you should never let anyone else diminish that.

People and relationships are not prizes at the end of the game; they are not your trophy for your perception of a well-lived life.

1. Your alarm is more like a guideline than a rule; one which you will repeatedly ignore.

8. He informs you that your promotion at work is only because your boss wants to ‘bang you.’ In the words of Ryan Gosling … Who still says bang?

5. In some ways (many ways maybe) you’d really rather not be ‘one of the guys.’

The Language Police Mom