Today is my 18th birthday! It’s been quite a wild ride up until this point, and honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. At this point in my life, I’ve found my style, my personality, hobbies I love, and a purpose. I’m not saying that I’m a fully grown-up adult (if you’ve met me, you know I’m not), but I feel like I have a direction in my life. I know a lot of this will change, but I believe I’m coming from a strong starting point where I’ll be able to find real happiness as I get older and experience more.
I know my 18th birthday is a big deal, so I knew I needed to do a blog post about it. I struggled with what I should do a little, as it seemed there were infinite possibilities for what I could do. After a little thinking, I thought the best idea would be to share 18 pieces of advice that have helped me get to where I am today.
- Don’t be afraid to be yourself.Self-confidence is the best thing anyone can have. When you’re your true self, you’ll be a lot happier, and you’ll definitely be living a better life.
- Surround yourself with people who truly support you.There’s nothing better than having a strong support circle full of friends and family. It doesn’t need to be huge, but we all need people we can rely on.
- Don’t try to please everyone.Not everyone is going to like you, and you’re not going to get along with every single person you meet. As long as you don’t pretend you’re someone you aren’t, you don’t need to worry about these people.
- Pursue your dreams, but don’t forget to have a backup plan.You have to do what makes you happy, but things change and life happens. Be prepared for anything, and your success will be that much sweeter.
- Don’t limit your imagination.We always have to keep moving forward, and your idea, no matter how wild, could end up being the next best thing. Even if it’s not, you learn from it and improve for next time.
- You get out what you put in.There are very few things in life that are handed to you. If you want something, you have to work for it and earn it. When you get it, you’ll feel truly accomplished.
- Don’t worry about everything.There’s too little time and energy to stress about everything, so let the little things slide.
- Everything happens for a reason.You may not see it now, but there’s a bigger picture in progress. Even if you’re not happy with how something is turning out now, just wait until you see what the big picture turns out to be.
- Don’t waste your time on things you aren’t passionate about.There’s so much more to do in the world than something you aren’t thrilled about doing. While some activities are necessary, your discretionary time is all about you.
- Be appreciative for all that you have.Everything you have helps get you to where you want to go. We all have different advantages and starting points, and yours is yours for a reason.
- Let things happen naturally.Never force an issue. Going back to point 8, there’s a bigger plan for you. Don’t push to be friends with people or push for something that doesn’t feel totally right, your time is coming.
- All struggles are temporary.Life is a rollercoaster. The low points don’t exist forever, and they make the best moments feel so much better.
- You don’t need a million friends.All you need is a handful of friends who you can really count on and trust, don’t worry about having friends just for the sake of having friends.
- Everything works better in moderation.Whether it be food or work, balance is the key to success.
- You’re allowed to change your mind (and your path).As you get older, you experience more and learn more, and you discover new things. You’re allowed to make changes based on what you encounter to better yourself.
- Try new things and keep an open mind.You never know what something is like until after you try it. Worst case scenario, you hate it, but you could also end up loving it and finding your new favorite thing.
- Reflect.You’ve grown and come so far! When you reflect on how far you’ve come, you’ll be able to see that you can achieve your dreams, and what a good time you’ve had getting to where you are now.
- Enjoy the ride.Life is short, and it only happens once. Love every moment, be thankful, and be excited for every adventure and opportunity.
I’m so happy to be turning 18, and I can’t wait to see what’s coming next. The adventure has been great so far, and I’ve been so lucky to have been given so many amazing opportunities, as well as friends and family who support me endlessly. There’s still so much to come, and I hope you’ll stick around and follow along for every incredible and magical moment. I’m anxious to keep going, but today, I’m celebrating and enjoying some cake.
See ya real soon,
