19 Things I've Learned In 19 Years

Now that 2016 is coming to a close I have started reflecting on the year and what it has taught me. My birthday actually happens to fall on my upload day this year, the 30th of December. As my birthday and the end of the year are so close when I think of the year I think of 2016 and the year of me being 18 and turning 19, a kind of two in one if you will. So today I wanted to sit down and have a chat about what the last year has taught me. These are 19 things I have learned in my 19 years of living.

1. Family comes first

A lot of people say this but you don't know the meaning of family until you're going through a tough time or lose one of them. This past year has been tough, both on me and unfortunately my family. But the true meaning of family is being able o stick through the tough times and celebrate the good times together. Your family are always going to have your back and support you no matter what even if you don't see them as often as you would like to. I'm so lucky to have the most incredible family I could ever ask for and I will always put them before everything.

2. Health is so important

You actually realise this when you don't have good health which is fairly ironic. You only have one body for your whole life so you need to mind and take care of yourself. When people use the phrase 'sher we have our health' it's so true because health is the only thing you actually physically need in life. So if you get sick, take care of yourself. If you don't feel well, mind yourself. Both physical and mental health are the most basic and important things in life, so mind yourself.

3. Take your time

Whether that is doing something small like a project or something bigger like going to college. Take that gap year if you need it. There are no 'age restrictions' in life, you don't need to be a certain age before you do a certain thing so take as much time as you need. You know yourself if you're not ready to do something and don't feel like you need to do it asap because of society's standards. You take your damn time. 

4. Appreciate the small things

It's the small things that can make you the happiest while you're waiting for the big things to happen. Whether that be your friend saying they like your jumper or a stranger smiling at you in the street, let the little things make your day and fill it with joy. So enjoy that funny cat meme you saw on Facebook because it's the little things that count.

5. Do what you love

And don't care what people think. I love playing classical music in an orchestra (fun fact about me if you didn't know already) and I don't give a damn if people think that's weird. Sher I talk about makeup and what I'm wearing on the internet and I don't care what people think of me for doing it. Once you find the things you love just keep doing them because they make life worth living. And you also meet the most amazing like minded people who share that common interest who will turn out to be the best people you have ever met.
  

6. Talk

Talk about how you feel, tell people how much you love them, speak up if there's a problem. Not everyone can mind read so you do have to make a little effort yourself if you want people to help you. As they say a problem shared is a problem halved. Talking is so incredibly important when it comes to mental health, I promise you that you will feel a hundred times better if you confide in someone. It's time to talk if you don't feel okay.

7. People change

Oh jesus have I learned this over the past year or two. Sometimes your best friend when you were 15 isn't going to be in your life by the time you get to college. And some people that you thought were so loyal and your reliable will completely change and let you down. Some people change for the better, including yourself. I have honestly changed so much, especially over the past three months. I guess change is good but sometimes people change for the worst.

8. Quality over quantity

This is especially when it comes to friends. You don't need fifty friends to go out with every week. Once you have a few close friends that are reliable and loyal, that's all you need. And tying into number 3, take your time when it comes to finding the quality. It doesn't matter if you don't find your true friends until college, it makes having to deal with all the shit ones worthwhile. This can also be used in conjunction with materialistic things. You don't need loads of pairs of jeans, once you have one good fitting pair you're sorted! 

9. Be independent

Doing things by yourself doesn't make you look weird and as if you have no friends, it shows your independence. Learning to be comfortable on your own is very important. Appreciating yourself and valuing your time by yourself is crucial, you can't appreciate and love others before you love and appreciate yourself. 

10. It's ok to cry

This one is fairly self explanatory. Bottling up emotions is never a good idea so if you feel sad, let yourself feel those feelings and cry if you need to. If you're so happy make sure to appreciate that feeling and cry with happiness if you want to. Emotions and feelings are normal, human things so don't be embarrassed about having them. Also I also feel so much better after crying and letting everything out.

11. Everyone doesn't have their life together

You might think they do but I promise you they don't. Everyone has no clue what they are doing in life and are just winging the whole thing. Social media can create these 'idyllic lives' that people have but I promise you that behind the camera and funny Instagram caption everyone is just as much of a mess as you are.

12. Put yourself first

This can be quite hard to do, especially if you're like me and have a fear of missing out and also want to make everyone you know happy. Life can take its toll and it's more important to take time out for yourself and your body to recuperate. So if you're not feeling up to going out with your friends later, tell them. If you think your body is telling you to take things easy then do that. As I said it takes a while to learn how to do this but at the end of the day there is only one you, and everyone in your life understands that.

13. Life isn't easy

Hell no it's not! Unfortunately nothing worthwhile is easy. I thought college was going to be way easier than it is but then I realised that nothing amazing is going to come easily. As Erika Fox says the harder you work the luckier you get. Life is emotionally hard too, everyone goes through rough patches that are darker than you have ever experienced but the only thing to remember is that you can't enjoy the good times without the bad times. 

14. Not everyone is going to like you

People say this a lot when it comes to life but it is very true. Some people are just going to have a thing against you for no particular reason. Girls can be bitches and unfortunately boys can be too so it's better off to ignore them and be the mature one who is civil with everyone. You're not going to get along with everyone you meet and not everyone you meet will get along with you either, so just take one for the team, wear a fake smile and be mature about it.

15. Try new things

Even if this is just switching up your coffee order or trying a new flavour of ice cream. If you did the same things over and over again your life would be fairly boring. Go out and meet new people, try out new pubs, walk a different route around town. Spice up your life. As the saying goes nothing magical happens inside your comfort zone.

16. You are not alone 

You would actually be surprised how many people love you and would miss you if anything was to happen. There are so many people whether they are family or friends that are rooting for you and delighted when they hear about your successes. You are also not alone when it comes to experiences. You may think you're the only person own the world going through something and it could turn out that so many people you know are going through the exact same thing. *starts singing 'You Are Not Alone'*.

17. Help

If you see a blind person crossing the road give them a hand. If you see someone who could do with a helping hand, just give them a hand. This is kind of common sense but you don't know how much a little helping hand can mean to someone. Even if that means giving your friend five cent so they can afford a muffin, it will truly make their day. Don't be afraid to help someone out or ask for help yourself if you need it.

18. Materialistic things aren't everything

People sometimes think that as a blogger all I care about and want is makeup or skincare or new clothes when realistically I can do without al those things and honestly don't care about them. I don't want material things for my birthday I want memories and experiences. People can get too caught with materialistic things and yeah, they're nice and enjoyable but buying planet tickets is so much better than buying a designer handbag. At the end of the day you're going to remember your relationships, experiences and memories and not how many Mac lipsticks you own!

19. Life is too short

So buy that lipstick, eat that chocolate, send a message to the friend you miss, tell that person how you feel. It's scary to think that your life could be taken away from you at any time and for any reason. Don't think too much about the small things that don't matter. Experience as many things with as many people in as many places around the world. You don't know how lucky you are to be able to live on this earth with the amazing people you are surrounded with so make it count.  

I'm not sure if any of that made sense. This blogpost has legit just been some random thoughts and feelings as I've looked back on the past year and the lessons I've learned in my lifetime. I hope you enjoyed this post nonetheless. Thank you for an amazing year of being 18 and here's to the 19th year of my life,

Ailbhe x