Today is my 19th birthday. Every year I feel like I’ve been that age FOREVER and it’s weird to finally become another year older, since I constantly feel older than my birthdate indicates. But here I am. 19.
It’s been a hard year. Let’s just say it was a lot easier to come up with the major, deep life lessons than the fun, light-hearted ones in this post. But it was also a good year. I traveled, I made new friendships and strengthened old ones, I wrote and read a ton. I figured out what makes me happy and what doesn’t and how to do more of the former.
And I learned a lot. Here are 18 things I learned at 18:
1. It’s okay to break your “everybody deserves a second chance” rule for red-flag people.
2. Thirty-six hours is the perfect duration for an adventure.
3. Saying sorry is not an instant fix.
4. A hamburger becomes heavenly when it’s inside two grilled cheese sandwiches.
5. People are willing to help if you tell them what you need, and they simply won’t if you don’t.
6. Gentrification is the absolute worst thing to see happen to your hometown.
7. When things aren’t going well, using humor can make nearly anything better.
8. Having nothing to go home to means you’ve made a new home elsewhere.
9. I’m much more forgiving than I thought I was.
10. Sometimes the scariest, riskiest, most complicated changes are the ones most necessary to make.
11. Reading harder is incredibly worthwhile.
12. Not being able to sleep in past 8:30 AM is an absolute nightmare.
13. Contrary to popular belief, a dorm room is no place for a baby.
14. HBO’s Girls makes me cry incessantly.
15. Being by myself is just as necessary for me as being with other people.
16. I can traverse the entire Detroit airport in 9 minutes when sprinting.
17. It only takes one wonderful person to make it obvious you’ve been settling with everyone else.
18. And you shouldn’t be settling with everyone else.
Loved this post? Read 17 Things I Learned at 17.
Hey! Happy Birthday!!
I love #8. I never thought about it like that but it is so true. :)
Anyways, Have a great day and I hope you have an amazing year ahead. xx
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Thanks so much!!
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Happy Birthday! If you’ve already grasped #s 17 & 18 then you are well ahead of your peers. Those are lessons it takes most of us much longer to learn. :)
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Thanks Karen!
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Happy Birthday!
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Thank you!
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Happy Birthday love! I am so happy you have learned so much about yourself this year, and I am so proud of you for everything you dealt with this year! You are an amazing person <3
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Thanks boo <3 besos!
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Happy Birthday! :D
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Thanks lady!
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Congrats hope today is a magical experience
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Thanks!
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Reblogged this on nickfounder's Blog and commented:
It made me feel old as I am double 18 but some good learnings there – Nick Founder
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Thanks for the reblog!
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Yup you’ve squeezed a lot of wisdom into that list. A very Happy Birthday to you :-D
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Thanks, Norm!
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Happy birthday love. You’ve learned more than I have in 50 years..haha. Good woman :)
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Ha! Thank you :)
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I’ll have to try #4 and I agree 100% with #7!
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Yes, Aubrie!!
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Great list! Happy birthday!
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Thank you!!
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This is great – once you’re 24, or have children, (both for me), you’ll look back and reminisce on all the lessons you’ve learned and you’ll be so thankful to live this life!
Visit my blog please! https://supermomthings.wordpress.com
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Also – wishing you a very, very happy birthday. May your years be filled with adventure and no regrets!
Visit my blog please! https://supermomthings.wordpress.com
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Thank you! What a great birthday wish–adventure and no regrets.
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Wait until you get older and then it seems like you aren’t that age nearly long enough.
Happy birthday Sabina.
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Thank you, Leanne!
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HOW DID I NOT SEE THIS UNTIL NOW
For the millionth time, happy birthday. I love you. This list is amazing and SO REAL. Especially 13. I’m so proud of you.
Also thank you for including me in your picture collage <3
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Preach to #13. I love you darlin!
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Happy birthday!
“And you shouldn’t be settling with everyone else.” Never, EVER forget this! I’ll try to remind you. Enjoy 19 – it’s a fun year :)
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That’s the plan–never forget this. Thanks Dee!
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Great post–happy birthday!!
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Thank you, Liz!
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Happy, happy birthday, Sabina. I wish you the best and brightest day. Enjoy your last year as a teenager…If nineteen is anything like eighteen, I’m sure you have another adventurous year ahead of you.
Also, I’m so curious about #13. If you ask me, dorm room and baby shouldn’t even belong in the same sentence. :)
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My dorm building was QUITE the place, let me tell you. Thanks girl :)
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Happy happy happy birthday, Sabina I hope you had a wonderful day; it looks like you learned a lot. Again, happy birthday! ~ Bea
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Thank you Bea!!
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Happy happy birthday my dear girl! Agreeing completely with #1, 9, 11 and 15 :) 19? Oh my, I just feel like a relic today :D Good to see so many younger bloggers out there. It’s addictive and I like it that way <3
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Glad it resonated with you! Thanks <3
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7, definitely 7. SO much truth. It even applies several years down the line. Wait and see.
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Oh, I’m sure!
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Happy Birthday. You’ve learned so many valuable things at a young age that usually take people a lot longer to learn.
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Thanks Susan!
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Happy 19th!!!
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