To celebrate my 21st birthday I thought that I would put together a few things that I have learnt along the way. Enjoy!

1. Make big moves, even if it seems scary at the time – it might be hard to change something in your life but you’ll thank yourself later for taking the step
2. Write lists and dates in diary – it’ll quieten the mind without having to think about a million things
3. Sometimes it helps to write things out – when you get overwhelmed with life things, write down how you feel, it can help a lot
4. Tell someone when they do something that bothers you – don’t just keep it inside or make excuses for them
5. You don’t have to deal with everything yourself – this is one I struggled to learn and still struggle with. I always think that I can sort things out by myself and have learnt that it’s ok to let people know you’re struggling with something
6. You can only control your own actions, let others make their own mistakes
7. Be mindful of what you say – you never know what someone is going through and you might regret saying something in the heat of the moment
8. Some people aren’t worth your energy, sometimes you need to walk away no matter how much you want to say something
9. Accept constructive criticism – don’t take it personally, it will only help you grow
10. Always be open to new experiences
11. Don’t say it’s ok when it’s not – it’ll let people know that what they did to you was fine (just thank them for apologising)
12. Travel and study overseas
13. Don’t accept double standards
14. Don’t rely on others to determine your own happiness, confidence or self worth
15. Do what makes you happy even if others might not think it’s the right thing to do
16. Don’t stay with someone just for the sake of being with someone/not being alone
17. Be completely comfortable with yourself before beginning a relationship – be with someone only to add to your life, not complete you
18. Positive thinking is so important – it can change your life
19. Surround yourself with people that encourage your natural self and support you
20. Stand your ground, even if it is with someone ‘above’ you eg. teachers, bosses
21. Enjoy the now, don’t just plan for the future

I have so much more to learn and experience – I can’t wait for what comes next!

Leah x