Wisdoms From a (Non) Adult

On the eve of my 22nd birthday, I thought I’d share some advice and things I’ve learned over the past 4 years of being a grown up child/adult/kid/halfway human being that I don’t really know much about yet.

I’ve learned you should always go to church.
You should read your bible. Cling to Jesus. Obey him.
Pray every night, tell God you’re thankful.

I’ve learned that the relationships you don’t choose are often the most important ones.
Call your parents every week.
Tell your sister you love her.
Don’t be the one in the group project who doesn’t do their shit.
Do your freakin dishes. Make your bed.
Give your roommate a cookie or better yet a shot of your tequila.

I’ve learned to travel. Alone and with others.
Navigate a foreign subway system. The Rome airport.
You should wonder. Explore. Get lost. Go to Paris.
Go back again. Go back again. Go back again.
God made this whole world for YOU. Explore it while you can.
It may be beautiful from heaven but I’ve seen beautiful places from the ground.

Don’t experience life the way people tell you you have to.
Gain perspective. Gain friends. Learn languages. Learn cultures.

I’ve learned how to do something I NEVER thought I’d learn.
I learned how to run. To run fast. Run farther than I thought I ever could. I’ve learned to trip and fall. And get up again.
Lululemon will exchange your ripped pants for free.

I’ve learned what it’s like to truly love.
To relish the moment. To experience joy.
 To ask myself, ‘If this isn’t wonderful, than what is?’.

I’ve learned to fall out of love. Experience pain.
Feel my feelings. Feel them deeply.
To tell myself ‘this is life, and I’m going to have to get out of bed today’.

At some point, everyone should feel unconditional love. Unfortunately, everyone will feel unfathomable heartbreak.
Don’t settle for someone who doesn’t tell you you’re beautiful. Don’t be the person someone settled for.

Mental health is just as important as physical health.
UT has therapists for $5.
UT also has flu shots for $5.
I implore you to use both of those services.

I’ve learned to respect myself. To demand respect from others. You should always love yourself. Always love Jesus more.
Always treat others with kindness - even if you’re in New York.

I’ve learned to live on my own.
To create a budget.
To live without a budget.
To pay for a $2 subway sandwich with a coupon and quarters from under my couch.

I learned that J. Crew has a sale rack.
And an outlet store.
It will all be ok.

I believe you should spend money on experiences, not designer purses.
Spend time with friends, not on netflix.
Buy nice cocktails with the money you save from ditching cable.

Go skydiving. Go to work. Go to school. Go to Croatia.
Get a degree. Get another one.

Try everything once. But do NOT try cocaine.

I’ve learn not to conform to ALL aspects of society.
Wearing neon clothes and necklace koozies for round up IS fun.
But pumpkin spice lattes are NOT worth the calories.

I learned what the heck the Iran deal was.
I learned that you can watch CNN live on CNN.com.
I’ve learned to not follow a political party just because your parents do.
But then again my parents have different political parties…
You should register to vote.
Read the goddamn newspaper. Or at least skim The Skimm.
The people on the news are actual humans like us.
Barak Obama is someone’s dad.
That random politician on the news, she’s someone’s daughter.

I’ve learned to dance in the rain until your Texas Sweethearts rain jacket doesn’t work anymore.
Watch football in the rain.
Cry in the rain.
Laugh in the rain.
It’s JUST rain.

Be kind to your soul, drink wine.
Be kind to your friends, don’t drink too much.
Be kind to your kidneys, drink water.
Be kind to your inner college girl, eat pad thai like there’s no tomorrow.

For a long time, I thought my life would end at 22.
I’ve learned that this journey of life has just begun.
Thanks for being in it with me as I cross one of many bridges from childhood to adulthood <3
I love you guys