17 things i learned before turning 17
when i met taylor last august, she told me that she loved my 16 things i learned before turning 16 post & thanked me for taking the time to write it. she explained to me that while she was writing hers, she hoped someone would do the same, so when she saw that i wrote one as well, it made her so happy ( 🥺?!!). soooooo!!! here i am again a whole year later with another!
1. appreciate the little things
- i find myself looking back on moments that seemd so insignificant at the time more often than anything else, so i’ve learned to appreciate and hold on to each little moment
-i think we can definitely all agree on this one hahshshs. sometimes things get thrown at us that we feel unprepared and scared for (like a global pandemic!) so it’s important that we keep in mind how crazy life can be so we aren’t thrown off gaurd
3. it’s okay to be vulnerable
-i’ve realized recently that it‘s okay to let people in and open up to them (if you feel comfortable)
4. music plays a huge role in my life
-music has always been something I take comfort in and use as an outlet, but it wasn’t until recently that i’ve realized how important it is to me. sometimes I spend hours on spotify trying to find new artists / music to add to my playlists!
-it can be so difficult to do what’s best for you instead of what you think others want from you, but it’s so important to put yourself first and take a step back if you need.
6. be someone others feel safe to lean on
-being there for your friends when they’re going through a though time or just need someone to talk to is so important. check in and remind them how much you care as often as you can.
7. put yourself out there
-as someone who is terrified of social situations, this can be so difficult. i’ve always found it hard to open up to new people, which is why being new freshman year was pretty difficult for me. i went into junior year making it my goal to put myself out there as much as possible & now i’ve made so many new amazing friends who I feel so comfortable around :,)
-i used to constantly put myself down because of the way being on social media made me feel. i ended up deleting instagram for a while and i immediately felt so much better. i don’t think I realized until I didn’t have access to social media how much I let it control me.
9. i loooovvvveee to read
-i used to despise reading and would be so confused each time someone told me they read for pleasure. when quarantine started and I deleted social media, I was SO bored & decided to start reading books that weren’t school required and now i LOVE IT!! some of my favorites are the sun is also a star, call me by your name, conversations with friends, and red white & royal blue!
-i’m the type of person who feels the need to constantly try to please people but i’ve learned that it’s okay to say no to things! you can be nice without letting people walk all over you
11. it’s fun to try new foods
-i’m the pickiest eater EVER but recently i’ve been pushing myself to expand my food pallet (which just consists of pasta. that’s it.) and i ended up trying so many new foods that I looovvvveee
-always trying to plan my life 2672828282 days ahead can be so stressful. though it’s important to be prepared (or in my case, over prepared), it’s really nice to let yourself relax and go with the flow
13. “my love for taylor swift grows more & more every day”
-this is a direct quote from my 16 things I learned before turning 16 but is still VERY relevant! taylor has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember, but each day I feel my love for her grow stronger. she is truly just the best person I know. her kindness and generosity towards others is something i’ve always looked up to, she never fails to inspire me. i love her with all of my heart and I can’t even express how much she means to me.
14. you never know what someone is going through.
-social media is truly just a  highlight reel of someone’s life. even if you’re super close to someone, they still have parts of their life they choose to keep private,  whether you know it or not. try to keep this in mind!
15. speak up for yourself
-if something is bothering you or makes you feel uncomfortable, it is so much better to have a conversation about it rather than let it bring you down!
-for some reason, i really struggled with confidence this year. i was constantly comparing myself to others and wishing i looked like them. though this is something i do still have a hard time with, i have to remind myself not to not try so hard to fit into some unrealistic standard of beauty. everyone is so beautiful in their own ways and it can be so hard to realize that about yourself.
-this year has been a rollercoaster. though 16 was pretty rough, it did come along with amazing memories that i’ll never forget. the rocky parts of the journey is what causes you to grow stronger and appreciate the not so rocky parts! i feel like i’ve grown so much over the past year, and i’m proud of myself for pushing through the dark and scary moments. everything is going to alright. i can’t wait to see what 17 brings!
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