21ish (Slightly Random) Things I’ve Learned

/ ktgrl
  • Above all, glorify God. His plans are perfect. Lean on Him even when it seems as if nothing makes sense. His character and love does not change.
  • Don’t waste time fretting over tomorrow. Enjoy where you are today.
  • Study hard, but don’t study your life away. School should never be your number one priority (look to number 1). The relationships and influences you have on those around you is so much more important than keeping a 4.0 GPA. Grades do not define you!
  • You are you. You are not supposed to be like anyone else. You are not supposed to fit in with all the cliques. Do not conform to this world so that you can blend in. Stand out and be confident in who God made you to be.
  • There is no step by step guidebook for life (aside from the Bible of course). You do not have to do things in the order the world expects you to. If you don’t want to go to prom, don’t go to prom. You’re not going to die if you don’t get your license on your 16th birthday.
  • Don’t buy trendy clothes. I know that top looks absolutely adorable with that one specific pair of jeans and the hoop earrings, but will it match with anything else you have? Life is so much easier when you can quickly grab two things and they’ll mesh well together.
  • I know it’s on sale, but do you actually need it? Is it high quality? Is it something you’ll use more than once? Is it actually a good deal?
  • You always have time to read. Look at the time you spend on your phone. I’d bet money it’s (significantly) more than thirty minutes a day. You have the time to do things, it’s whether or not you manage and prioritize the time that you do have.
  • Buy a whiteboard. Less than $20 from the very back of Home Depot/Lowes. 4’x8’. It’s life changing. Trust me. (Also, hand sanitizer is amazing for erasing old writing).
  • Prioritize your relationship with God. Be in intentional prayer throughout the day. Be in the word daily. Reach out to people around you. Go to God first in all situations. Be involved with a local church. Mentor younger peers. Be mentored by older believers.
  • Send the text. Stop overthinking it. Talk about feelings. Be honest. You miss every opportunity you never take.
  • Get outside. Walk around your neighborhood, hike at a local park, draw on the sidewalk with chalk, climb a tree, dance in the rain. You’ll feel so much better by doing something active.
  • Taylor Swift is sometimes a mood.
  • Get out of your head. Sometimes it’s okay to not think. When your head is flooded, take a nap, take a run, call a friend, watch a movie, or anything else that doesn’t require any big brain decisions.
  • Don’t make life altering decisions after 10pm or before 6am. Also, don’t make any decisions when you’re emotional to any extreme. Write the email/text, wait 24 hours, edit the message, then send it.
  • Don’t waste time with boys. There is a difference between a boy and a man. That difference is huge. Don’t date any boy with hopes of him later becoming a man. It is not your job to mold him into that perfect man. Date someone who you don’t want to change.
  • Experiment with food. You may regret it, but it’ll be a learning experience. For example, green bean cookies aren’t half bad.
  • Never stop learning. Research that random topic, watch the YouTube videos, read the books, perform the experiments.
  • Background music makes life more exciting. Blast the tunes and dance along!
  • Write handwritten letters every once in awhile.
  • Caffeine is amazing. I swore off everything coffee for years. I still have a love hate relationship with it. I used to despise the taste and hate the fake energy, but I’ve slowly been brought over to the dark I mean the light side of the world. The world is a much sweeter and brighter place through the eyes of a caffeine high. It is my drug of choice and I will give into it’s embrace.
  • Spend time with family and friends. Life is short, don’t waste precious moments.
  • Don’t argue over petty things. You won’t remember what you were arguing over two weeks from now. It really isn’t that big of a deal. Show love to those around you and treat people with grace and respect.
  • Healthy food truly do make you feel better.
  • Try new things. Go to new places, try new hobbies, dye your hair with Kool-Aid, experiment!
  • Don’t do drugs.
  • If you dye your hair with Kool-Aid, know that it is NOT temporary.
  • You’re never going to be this old again. This is the youngest you will ever be and the oldest you have ever been. Enjoy where you are!
  • Talk to strangers. Learn their stories.
  • Remember peoples’ names.
  • Compliment that girl’s hairstyle you like. You’ll boost her mood for the day.
  • Chocolate milk is good. Don’t skimp out, buy the quality milk. (My middle TN girl got spoiled with Hatcher Dairy’s glorious milk. If you’re ever in the Middle TN area, stop by their little store off Arno Road in Franklin —or pick some up at any of the local grocery stores).
  • TP is expensive. Don’t buy it cheaper.
  • You always need to do the dishes and laundry. It’ll never be done. That’s okay.
  • Life will never be perfect. Get over yourself.
  • You’re allowed to tear up books and throw away old things.
  • Don’t live life in the past. Today is a day for a day.
  • Cut your own hair. It’s therapeutic, you’ll regret it immediately, but you’ll also save tons of $$.
  • Potatoes can be cooked any way. They are always a wonderful addition to any meal—or the meal itself. (Look up the recipe for Funeral Potatoes—they’re a little bit of Heaven on Earth).
  • Watch the Sound of Music if you haven’t already. It’s a wonderful movie.
  • Watch the Sound of Music if you have already. It’s one you should watch more than once.
  • High School is not like High School Musical.
  • Take pictures of happy moments.
  • Middle school is temporary.
  • Give yourself grace when you inevitably make mistakes. Extend this grace to others as well. God gives us so much grace each day. We should do likewise.
  • Don’t let little tasks pile up. If it’s a 5 minute or less task, do it the moment you think about it instead of adding it to your todo list to do later. One little thing each day is a lot more manageable than 25 later.
  • Write down dates. The first day at your new job, the day you bought your car, the day you last changed the air filter, etc.
  • On the topics of air filters, write the date you put the new one in on the air filter itself.
  • Every time you dry clothes and empty the dryer, check and clean the vent. Please don’t set your dryer on fire.
  • Clean as you go. My dad has been a broken record on this over the years, but it’s taken me longer than I care to admit to see the value in this principle. Your house won’t get messy, if things have a place and are cleaned up after they’re used.
  • Be flexible. Plans change. People grow. Things happen. Take life as it comes. Don’t get all up in a fuss when rain cancels your outdoor event, your friend is running late, you left the house in mismatch shoes, etc. Roll with the punches and see the beauty in each moment.
  • The TV show Psych is amazing.
  • 24, Chuck, The Mentalist, Gilmore Girls, Sherlock, and Kim’s Convenience are also great.
  • Get to know your neighbors. They’re people too. They have stories to tell. Live within the community where God has placed you. (Rosaria Butterfield’s book, The Gospel Comes with a House Key is a wonderful read).
  • Listen to Podcasts! I can’t recommend enough, Sheologians.
  • Listen to Sermons– https://gccnashville.org/resources/sermons/
  • Be a friend to those around you.
  • See the beauty in the mundane. Pause and enjoy the little things.

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