11 things I have learned in my twenty-two years on Earth

I have recently celebrated my twenty-second birthday, (on the eleventh of August) and although I am not one to celebrate birthdays so much, having a birthday in these circumstances has caused me to stop and wonder- what have I done in my life? Sometimes it is the tough experiences in life that enables us to break the mould that society and personal expectations holds us in, and we manage to break free… we are ALL channelling Freddie Mercury here. We then see more clearly and allow ourselves to cast our own judgement on life. The important thing is to not dwell on the negative, and to put a strong emphasis on the good, positive elements of our life. Here are some observations and lessons I feel that I have learned so far in my time on Earth:

1. You do not need other people’s validation.
2. No one is paying attention to you, so do it and do not give a sh*t. Take every chance that you are given in life.
3. Your weight does NOT define you. (I would highly recommend you grab a copy of Megan Crabbe A.K. A Bodyposipanda’s fantastic Body Positive Power).
4. Not everyone is bad. It was one bad experience, do not tar everyone with the same brush. *Therapy taught me this. See also point 8.
5. Life goes by SO quickly, make the most of every moment.
6. The amount of effort you put in will dictate the results that you get. (this one needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, as you cannot burn a candle at both ends. However, if you want to do well in your chosen field, you need to put the work in. Success takes hard work, not laziness and leniency).
7. You cannot blame others, you need to accept responsibility for your actions and behaviours.
8. Therapy is GOOD. (but it does require point 7, and your therapist cannot do the work for you).
9. Apologise for the wrong that you did.
10. People rarely post their real lives on social media. (not every ‘real’ picture that people post online is the true representation of their situation. We all like to highlight the best bits ourselves, just remember that when you’re scrolling at 3am).
11. Never forget who lifted you up when you were down. Repay the favour. Pass on the kindness and wisdom that you experienced.

Bonus: Get enough sleep, hydrate (water over caffeine), and remember to properly nourish your body and soul.