21 Things I've Learnt in 21 Years
- zoe1675
- May 26, 2019
- 8 min read
It's my 22nd birthday and I thought about what I could write. I've had the 18th and the 21st, what's really to write about for the 22nd?
Well, I thought I'd share some things I've learnt, little or small, in or about life over my 21 years.
"Treat others how you want to be treated"
The quote that everyone uses yet not everyone sticks too. Know this, but never let it get the better of you. As long as you are a good person and treat others respectfully then there's no reason why you can't expect to be treated the same in return (doesn't mean you always will).
Self Love
A factor in life that over the last few years has been highlighted more and more of being such an important thing (especially with everything going on with mental health). I'm a big believer in the whole "how can you expect someone else to love you if you can't love yourself?". Always find time for "ME" time; moments to look after yourself, treat yourself and prioritise yourself. It's not selfish to put yourself first sometimes.
The Value of Friendship
Going through school I went through many different friendship groups; I never really had that one true best friend or someone to rely on. It's only in the last 4 years that I've found my perfect match in a friend, my best friend, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I have a small number of friends that I can count on for anything and I wouldn't change that for anything.
"Less is more" kinda thing!
It's impossible to please everyone
It's true. Please yourself and those that are closest. Never stress about pleasing everyone for things, you never will and never can. Always do and say what you want and keep yourself happy. If other people really care about you and your feelings/ opinions then they will be happy regardless.
"Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life"
I can say to this day I have never worked a day EVER. I love my gymnastics coaching and wouldn't dream of changing it. I've come so far and will be starting my level 3 theory course at the end of this year. I've learnt that there is a job out there that is perfect for everyone, you just have to find it.
On that note- I've developed my coaching
I've learnt to coach things that I used to dream about doing when I was a gymnast. When coaching you never stop learning new things and ways of teaching skills. I don't think there is anything wrong with being proud of how far I've come, I also still realise I have some way to go still. University was never for me, I love the life I live in a gym.
You can't choose your family
But, you can cherish them.
Your family are the ones who pick up the pieces when things go wrong, are there for you when others aren't/ can't be and stick by you. I understand that's not always the case or there's always differences within families; personality clashes and similarities etc. However, everyone always has family and they should be appreciated.
Not everything in life works out
Yep, my 21st year of life and I've been through my worst break up to date. When I was 20 I moved job locations to where I am now. I'm learning adult life chucks a lot at you. There's a reason for everything, if things don't work out you have to let them go. Something new will always find its way to you somehow to change the path. Whatever changes from now, to next week, a month or even 5 years from now; always take life as it comes and deal with it bit by bit. Life is full of lessons, ones you are meant to learn along your way.
Travel is the best escapism
Not everyone has the opportunity or gaps in their life at the right time to go travelling for a year or months etc. Theres always a way to do it that gives just as much fulfilment. I'm loving booking city break after city break around the world. Giving me things to look forward to in the year and getting me around the world bit by bit. One day I'll have the time to do the further afield trips, until then I'll explore everything I can.
I've also learnt to explore your own city and country just as much as others. You'll realise there's so much more to find than what appears at first sight (there are so many hidden places in London).
How to drive
Learning how to drive is a lesson you will never forget and one that lasts. Trust me, I drive 45 minutes to work, driving is important (maybe more to me than others). One thing I can recommend is not to rush learning to drive or starting. I didn't start learning to drive until I was 18 ( I put my A-levels first). Although driving gives a sense of freedom, especially at the age of 17, it can be expensive; lessons, tests, the car, fuel and all the running costs. Bare all of this in mind as a lesson about having a car as well as how to drive.
Do things out of your comfort zone
This is actually something I need to do more of. I think sometimes I'm scared to "let my hair down". I'm one that always needs to have a plan or has to be mentally prepared for a spontanious outing. However, I think it's so important to be able to relax into a new situation or scenario; so that's something I'm going to work on more.
Never be afraid to make new friends
This topic has come up a lot lately. There's loads of tweets all over Twitter and comments on Instagram of girls wishing they could just have a group chat of random girls and ask if anyones up for doing anything. I'll be honest girls are unique, nothing can be made easy. There are so many reasons why this won't work, but I would love to find a way to meet new girl friends.
For example , in December last year I started talking to a girl at London Euston station whilst waiting for my train. We added each other on instagram, have a catch up via messages every now and then and have recently been for cocktails in London. It's great!
Help other people
You never know what other people are going through. I think its important to allow yourself time to help others in life, whether that be someone external from the people in your life or someone in your family you help. You never know when you may need people to help you (no one ever helped me when I fell over on the underground, that makes me sad). It's the little things.
I learnt my limits of alcohol
Turning 18 is great and yes everyone probably went to about 20 house parties before they could actually legally drink; but you never seem to test your alcohol capacity until you venture out clubbing. I learnt this lesson once and that was the last time I was drunk.
Epilating is so much better than shaving
My mum bought me an epilator for my 16th birthday. I remember at the time thinking it was a rather weird present to be given- one that was missed of the list of gifts mentioned when people asked what I had got for my birthday. It was only once I'd started to use it and continued to, that I realised it is actually something to shout about. I use my epilator on my legs and I wouldn't even dream of going back to shaving. Shave every few days/ week or epilate every 2-3 weeks?
I know which one I would choose.
Less skincare is best
Through my teens especially my skin was very prone to breakouts. I tried absolutely everything I could at one time on a breakout, which actually made it worse. Skincare is something unique to you, I don't believe that anyones skin can be completely the same. I have tested and tried so many things and finally found something that is working for me. It's not about using lots of things, its about keeping it simple and also allowing your skin to breathe. I'm no skin expert, but I am learning.
Wearing no make up isn't scary
Self confidence is the best outfit to wear.
For so many years I built a fear in myself and never wanted to leave the house with no make up; even if it was just some concealer covering a spot I had. It was only after I started coaching full time that I convinced myself that my skin was worse for wearing it than it was when I wasn't. Since 2016 I've been leaving the house for work with no make up on. To this day, I now only wear make up if I'm going out somewhere on a weekend or for a special occasion. It was a challenge at some points, but a lesson in self confidence that I learnt very quickly.
Measure twice, cut once
Something my dad has always taught me through his 'DIY' ways. It literally is as it says on the tin. It's a bit like preparing for something over and over will make it more likely to happen correctly. This is definitely something I will remember- especially if I ever move out one day and need to do some 'DIY' myself.
Training a puppy isn't easy
I'm still training one if I'm honest. Learning to deal with Poppy (our family dog that most people think is mine) is an ongoing lesson and training is never ending. I grew up with my previous dog and as I was young when she was a pup, I had very little to do with her training. Whereas with Poppy, I'm the one who has had the most time to be able to take her for walks, work on her recall and commands etc. Since training Poppy and taking her out for walks I've remembered how nice it is to spend some time in your own bubble. With or without headphones, a walk to yourself, surrounded by people who only care about your dog is great!
You're not meant to remember everything
Memories are made, people come and go and all things happen within 24 hours; you simply cannot remember it all. This is one that came to me recently (I've actually struggled to think of life lessons I've learnt etc as I've categorised them all) when I was sat on a train the other day and over heard two girls testing each other for their biology exams. Talking about cytoplasm and all the components of an animal cell; I can't remember a thing. Yet, back to the year I sat my biology exam you still cram everything in and stress out. You will never remember it all.
I'm learning that sometimes certain things are irrelevant or meant to be forgotten.
Always wear suncream
This is my last lesson I will tell you about. Last year me and my bestie went away to Portugal for a few days and we got the worst sun burn ever. We were silly and thought we could get away without suncream on an overcast day. Turns out not and I spent the rest of the holiday wearing a jumper as it was the only thing I had to cover my sun burn up. Since then I have been so weary about going out in the sun and not allowing myself to burn.
Protect your skin.
Without a doubt I have learnt a lot more than 21 things over the years, from the very start of learning how to walk and tie a pair of shoe laces, to the amount of rubbish that you have to learn for GCSE's and A-Levels. These were my highlights and things that I thought, if shared, may help someone else along their way to learning the same.
I wonder how many of you will now go back through this blog counting the 'lessons' to check I did 21?
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