Feelin’ 22

As many of my social media friends know, April 29 was my 22 birthday! I feel so overwhelmed with the love and kind words from the people in my life. As an official 22 year old woman, maybe I should get a roll on this adulting business?
no. that shits for 23 year olds.
Next year for sure.
Sorry, I digress. The main point of this blog is to share a little knowledge I have gained on surviving my early 20s, thus far. I will preface this blog by saying I am barley scraping by, so take my words with a grain of salt.

Treat yourself like a glorious, beautiful, house plant. In these past few years I have learned the importance of drinking water, and spending time in the sunshine. If I have any freshly graduated youngsters reading my blog, take this advice. Allow natural light into your living space, it helps the sad days, and makes you get out of bed for your morning classes. Additionally, drinking water and staying hydrated IS LIFE CHANGING. No, seriously. I'm pretty sure I was severely dehydrated for about a year, when most of my fluid intake was either PBR or coffee. When I drank water more frequently I realized- Oh? That's what is feels like to be alive? NEAT. Photosynthesis?
You can't eat taco bell every time you drink. I feel like the font of that sentence made it abundantly more cute. But you know whats not cute? Getting drunk and eating 8 tacos. That shits really humbling the morning after. You wake up surrounded by crunchy shells and shredded lettuce, wondering what possessed you. I've learned if you eat dinner before you go out with friends, you are less likely to succumb to the drunchies (drunk munchies). The morning after a night out, you can get some brunch, that's more classy;).
Call your people and tell them you love them. Life's too short to not connect, or reconnect with the people who matter. Where ever you are in life, never hesitate to shower someone you care about with a little sunshine. Brighten their day with a phone call, text, or going out for a cup of coffee. I have had very few regrets worth holding onto, but I always have a hard time knowing I didn't reach out to a friend when they were struggling. AND HAVE YOU MET MY FRIENDS? THEY ARE SWEET SOULS WHO DESERVE TO KNOW HOW LOVED THEY ARE. The older I get, the more I realize how important it is to take care of the people you love, and I am blessed to have the people in my life reciprocate this belief.
Your early 20s are for accumulating experiences, books, art, laughter, wisdom, knowledge...not money. I am known as what you would call a 'baller on a budget'. I want to do everything, but I have no money. But that's okay! I've learned to prioritize what I really want. I have never chose a new purse over a trip with my friends. I have learned going to local art exhibits are a non expensive, but valuable and mind expanding. I would rather travel the world, than stay at home with a new wardrobe. I have pulled away from the need to have what everyone else has, and began to value the gift of experiences. +++++++ HUGE shout out to my parents who are endlessly supportive of me living life to the fullest. They taught me the importance of living life for simple pleasures, as well as big adventures.
Embrace where you are at. Since starting college, I have found myself looking at everyone around me thinking 'what the hell am I doing'. It's so easy to compare yourself to others. I have friends who have babies, getting married, buying houses, graduating college. And here I am, living at my parents house, googling "Can I drink wine while on antibiotics?" (that is sincerely the last thing on my google search). But I also don't think I give myself enough credit for the kick ass things I am doing. I am going to school for a major in History for secondary ed, and I'm living for new experiences. As I typed that out I felt gross for being so braggy, but I think we are taught to stay quiet about our successes, and not celebrate too loudly. I have friends who are living life to the fullest working part time jobs, with no college experience. I think that's pretty kick ass as well. We are all just trying our best, and we need to stop comparing. Comparing steals away from the contentment/happiness you can feel by loving where you are at in this moment.

As I wind this blog down, I just want to say thank you and love you to everyone who made 21 a great year. I am blessed beyond words. I hope 22 is a year that allows me to grow in love, faith, happiness, and experiences.
-Libby