23 things

A friend of mine pulled this together and I thought it was so insightful and quite brilliant, so I’ve decided to do one of my own. I’ve got 2 more months of 23. It may not be a very significant age (you can already drink legally, but you still can’t rent a car on the cheap), but it’s been a really awesome year for me [so far].

23 things I’ve learned at 23

1. Pick your battles – There are a lot of times it would be easy to throw in your two-cents that may agree or disagree with another’s point. Sometimes it’s not worth it to push things. Smile, accept things, and let life move on. Why cause grief over nothing?
2. Keep your mouth closed – This goes in part with 1. above; it’s not always best to add everything you have to say. Sometimes it’s better to listen, sometimes it’s better to just let conversation keep happening without stalling on a subject, sometimes the moment is not about you – accept it.
3. Go with the flow – Not always the easiest thing, but once you can accept things around you as they are you can do your best to make the absolute best out of situations; you will be happier for it.
4. Sleep ≠ thinking – Going to sleep is going to sleep, it is not lying in bed waiting to fall asleep and fretting about everything that did, could, might, may have happened.
5. Everything falls into place – Seriously. Everything is going to be okay.
6. Don’t worry about things you can’t control – Just don’t. It’s a waste of time that could be spent doing fun, happy things.
7. Distance is nothing – Friends move to follow dreams and goals. Friendships do not end due to this. True friends keep up with each other via snail mail, email, Skype, and various other messaging programs. They find a way to cheer you up on rough days from states, coastlines, and oceans away.
8. Be Yourself – It’s easier. And you will be happier for it.    
9. Don’t micromanage life – You can’t control it all, and you’re not psychic, so stop planning every detail.
10. Everything gets better – It really does. And you’re going to be okay. It just takes time (and yes, sometimes time SUCKS).
11. Bad days just happen – Refer to 6. Sometimes you can’t control things (traffic, technology failures, etc.). Don’t freak out about it. Make the most of it, laugh at yourself because you can’t do a thing to change things sometimes.
12. Time management isn’t easy – Seriously, can there be a day between Saturday and Sunday?
13. Budgets suck – Truly, they do. But they are a necessary evil.
14. You can’t do everything – Not on your own anyway.
15. Rejection isn’t so bad – It’s just a stepping stone to something better.
16. Be the bigger person – This is hard and it sucks to do, but its necessary. Sometimes you have to suck up your pride and be the bigger person. It will salvage friendships and prevent undue drama.
17. Drama is not necessary – This isn’t middle school any more folks. Stop your nonsense.
18. Worse things have happened to better people – Really. They have! A friend told me this after my dog destroyed something of hers and I felt so, so bad about it. It ended up being a really easy fix and I learned a lot from the experience. What you’re going through is likely not the end of the world. Things could be a lot worse.
19. Say “No” – If you don’t people are going to walk all over you and take advantage of you. Additionally, you’ll run yourself into the ground trying to accomplish all of your tasks and obligations.
20. Being alone is not a bad thing – It’s a wonderful thing. I hope everyone can find comfort with it.
21. Appreciate what you have and who you are – You’re pretty lucky. Think about it.
22. Have faith in yourself – You’re capable of anything.
23. Be present – Focus on the NOW. Don’t dwell on the past – but it is okay to learn from it. Don’t live in the future – but you can have hope for it. Wherever you go, there you are.