20 Things I Learned Before Turning 20

The date of publishing is April 2, 2019, and my twentieth birthday is on April 4th. It feels very strange to think that I will have lived two decades, but no one can stop the passage of time. I don't want to get philosophical, but here are 20 things that I learned before turning 20 (in no specific order). Bear with me, this is a long list.

1. I learned what I would like to do with my life.

Photography and graphic design are a couple of my biggest passions in life, and I'd like to pursue a career in those fields. Many people don't find a direction for their life so easily, so I count this as a huge blessing.

2. Being quiet is okay, and even a strength.

For all of my life I have always been the quiet one, and there was a time where I wished that I wasn't. It seemed like louder, livelier people had more fun and I had a fear of missing out. I have become content with my low-key personality, because the world would be boring if we all behaved the same way. You'll never find me talking just to hear the sound of my voice, I'm a listener, and I like that about myself.

3. Getting good at something takes time.

No one is ever a master at anything overnight. Not even Leonardo Da Vinci. I can't pick up a new hobby and expect to be an expert right away, and if I do, I set myself up for disappointment. Instead, I have realized that if I put in a little bit of time every day, I will slowly improve. Now when I accomplish hobby-related goals, like reaching a 100-day streak on Duolingo for example, I feel very proud of all that work and can celebrate my achievement.

4. Starting is the hardest part.

For anything I work on, it can feel so hard to drag myself away from scrolling on Instagram. It's so easy to just stay there. If I can put my phone down for just three minutes and start something else, I figured out that I have a much higher likelihood of sticking with that task. Just start.

5. I learned that my sweet tooth is really bad.

Okay, it could definitely be worse, but I do love sweet things of all kinds and it is a miracle that I have never had a cavity.

6. I prefer a small group of friends.

I used to think that a big group of friends that all hung out together would be great, but lately I have realized that isn't for me. I prefer to have a small group of ride-or-die friends that I can confide in and invest in and have fun with. I'm sure that the big group dynamic is fun for a lot of other people, but it isn't for me and that's okay.

7. My music taste is all over the place.

If I get asked what kind of music I listen to, I could give five different answers. I have playlists for every kind of mood and I like it that way. If you have any recommendations, send them my way!

8. I learned that bad times don't last forever.

Trust me, I know how it feels to think that the black cloud hovering over you and weighing you down will never go away. I speak from experience. I promise it will pass. It might be days or even weeks, but it will pass. Even in long periods of darkness, I know to find my hope in Jesus because nothing in this world will "fix" me like He can.

9. I found a love for learning.

I will admit, I am a nerd. I love reading and acquiring knowledge about different things. School can make learning seem pretty mundane and boring, but now that I'm in college and I have more control about what I'm learning, I know that becoming knowledgeable about different subjects is very valuable. I want to be a lifelong learner!

10. I figured out that I should be taking care of my body.

It's not that I was ever not taking care of it, but now I know what to do to treat it well. A healthy body is a gift that I thank God for, and I don't want to take it for granted. So I drink my water, eat food that will nourish and strengthen me, and I see exercise as a challenge. Also, I don't feel guilty about treats every once in a while, because moderation is key. Plus, I think that if something is delicious and it brings you joy to eat, there should be no guilt attached. For me, if it's delicious, it has no calories!

11. I learned that I like things clean.

I'm nowhere near obsessive, but I do know that if my space is messy, I cannot concentrate. For me, everything has a place and everything is in its place.

12. People are not as scary as I think they are.

I'll admit, I'm still a little scared of phone calls. But when it comes to emailing other people, talking to professors, asking questions in class, or asking friends to hang out, it isn't nearly as scary as I build it up to be in my head. As for professors, they aren't out to get me. And my friends, as my friends, are usually happy to hang out! Sometimes I just need to calm down.

13. Communication!!!

Communication is so important!! I cannot stress this enough!! If you have a problem with someone, adult-up and talk to them about it hard. It's hard, I know it is, it's SO HARD sometimes. It's worse to keep things inside and let resentment build up. Even if you can't forgive them at the time, clearing the air will make you feel so much better.

14. I've learned that I like the minimalist lifestyle.

I'm nowhere near the one outfit, one mug, one fork and one plate minimalism, but I don't like unnecessary stuff. This goes back to my thing about clean spaces. For me, a clean space means a clean mind. Now, I don't buy fast fashion or buy things just to buy. Having stuff doesn't make me happy. If consolidating means I can focus on more important things, I'll do it.

15. I learned that I really love toast.

Even while writing this, it seems so random, but I love toast! My favorite breakfast of all time is toast with peanut butter and jelly, you literally cannot go wrong with that.

16. I found a love for cooking and baking!

I think this came from me caring about what I put into my body. If I'm making whatever it is, it can be up to the standards I set for myself. There's also an art involved in cooking and baking that I really appreciate.

17. I learned that I want to be a world citizen.

Our world is big and small at the same time. I want to travel abroad and see places that are geographically far away, but I also know that the people living far away are humans just like I am. I want to learn about how different people live and be able to communicate with them. I don't want to stay in my little United States bubble, I want to have friends all over the world!

18. I learned that procrastinating is actually horrible.

If there's any lesson that you take from this post, make it be this one. Stop procrastinating! Personally, it causes me so much extra worry and stress and it's just not worth it. I'm far better at not procrastinating than I used to be, but I am always trying to improve!

19. I don't have to have it all figured out.

Sometimes I have to catch myself, like, "Slow down! Calm down! You're not even fully adult yet, you have time." As I've gotten older I know what older people are talking about when they say time flies as you get older. Time feels like it's going faster and faster for me, and that makes me feel like I should be doing more of everything. Thinking about and trying to plan out my life for the next ten years just adds stress and I might make expectations for myself that I may or may not meet. Instead, I'm content where I am and this gives me the freedom to give my all for the people I'm with now, the projects I have now, and everything in between. Of course, our days are numbered and I don't actually know how much time I have, but I will live it in the present moment instead of worrying about something that's five years down the road.

20. The last thing on my list is that I have my favorite Bible verse.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 is my favorite Bible verse. It's a pretty famous one and I can feel people rolling their eyes at me, but I love it. I have had this verse in my head for almost as long as I can remember. I believe in God and I believe that He created me with a greater purpose in mind, greater than anything I could dream up for myself. When I have moments of darkness or fear or doubt, this verse gives me reassurance that anything that comes my way is for my good, even if I don't understand it.

These are my 20 things I learned before turning 20! Some are lighthearted, some a little deeper, but I'm happy to share them with you all. For any of my older readers, what is something that you wish you would have known when you were 20?

Thanks for reading!

xx, Hannah