Just Life | 25 things learned at 25

I turned 25 this past Wednesday, the final age of adulthood. I can now rent a car without a cosigner. Now the next age to look forward to is retirement!

Since I've now hit this notable age, I thought I'd share 25 things I've learned throughout the past years. Some are advice that I wish I would have known or understood before. Don't get me wrong though, I am still a work in progress and still learning to better implement these lessons and advice into my life.

25 things learned at 25

1. Just like you, your parents are only getting older. Spend and enjoy as much time with them as you can. They deserve it, don't overlook them. They are part of your should and heart.
2. People don't pay attention to you half as much as you think they do. Everyone is consumed with their life, so stop overthinking about what people will think of you. 
3. Do what you love. No one is going to of it for you. You have one life, and you're allowed to be happy. 
4. Quality over quantity. This has been hard for me with deals, but I've learned that things that last are much better than having a multitude of things that will need to be replaced sooner. 
5. Your response is your responsibility. Think twice you do or say something too quickly.  
6. Work hard at what you want and life will fall into place as it should. God's plans are tremondous and glorious. He is faithful and is doing everything as it should be. 
7. It's not who you are that holds you back. It's who you think you're not. Everything is a risk-not doing anything is a risk- so be yourself all the time. Take as many pictures as you want, dance away the days and nights, and go for your passions. Become a master of your life and learn to control where your attention goes. Value what you give your energy and time to. 
8. No one knows who you are until you show them who you are. Be someone that makes you happy. 
9. It's never too late to start anything. You can't go back and change the beginning but you can start where you are at and change the ending. Human will is the strongest thing. 
10. Lose your fears and be more alive! You're the only one who has the power to truly make yourself happy, so be less afraid and gain your whole life. 
11. Love people without an agenda. Love them genuinely. As they are loved well, they will grow well. 
12. Follow your arrow wherever it goes. No matter what you do, people will judge you anyway. But similar to the second item learned; in a week the things you do will just become talk, in a year it will just be a distant memory, and after 5 years most will not even remember things of the past because it's just part of the past anyways. 
13. Don't let anyone make you feel like less; you are more than you think you are. Stand up for yourself and others. Don't ever be ashamed of who you are. 
14. It's okay to be an introvert. I use to think that it was shameful that I wasn't super outgoing and extroverted, but I've found that it's alright to be an introvert. 
15. Change is inevitable. Relationships may end, and that's okay. There is a plan in the works. 
16. Time flies by, enjoy the moments now. Don't let situations or people how you back from enjoying your time here. 
17. It's okay to be emotional, breakdown, and show weakness. It's not actually weakness, it's strength. 
18. Life goes on no matter how bad things seem. 
19. We're all works in progress. You always have more to learn. 
20. There is beauty in everyday. Grasp it. 
21. Healthy relationships are based on truths, and the relationship builds from negotiating your truths. 
22. Styles will cycle around again. 
23. Be present. Just because you are physically there doesn't mean you're present.
24. Never say you'll start things the next day. Start things Today. You don't need to be 100% planned. Just start it and it will work out if it's meant to happen. 
25. You are important. Take care of yourself.