14 Things I Learned in 2014
1. People might run, people might lie, people might take advantage of you, but you can't let those people break you. Their deceptions are not a reflection on you. Misplacing your trust does not make you stupid or an easy target. And for every one person who makes you question your friendships, there will be fifty who will remind you that they are not the norm. And there will be five who pick you back up and brush you off and offer to come to wherever you are that you need them and show you that you're not just a stupid person to be used but a friend to be valued. And giving out love and trust - though sometimes is misguided - is ultimately worth it if it means you've found those few people. 2. You are stronger and smarter than you think. You didn't think you could finish your spring semester and you did. With flying colors. When you just focus on the next step, you finish the race. 3. If someone says something that's not okay, tell them then; don't let it fester. Don't just brush it off because chances are you'll keep thinking about it. And if you're going to address it, do it in the right way. 4. You don't look the same way you did in high school and you probably never will again, and that's more than okay. You might've been a little bit smaller back then but you also had an ugly haircut and you know how to do your makeup now, so it evens out. 5. Your family is amazing. Don't forget to tell them you love them. They are a strong unit and support system who lost a central link this June, and even the strongest units fall apart sometimes. You need them and they need you. You love them and they love you. That's what being a family is about, and you all will be okay. 6. You can survive working 16 hour days. Remember that. You taught children from 9 AM - 5 PM and rehearsed from 6 PM - 1 AM almost every day for 3 months. Sleep is a luxury but you're fully functional on very little and can perform well even under high demand. 7. You say yes to too many people. You agree to too many things. You try to tell too many people that they're right. This ALWAYS gets you into trouble. 8. You like stage managing. 9. You love writing music. 10. You hold on tightly and let go...once people have pried your hands away. And even then you're not always willing to fully let things go. For the sake of yourself and your friendships and your own relatively fragile self esteem, you have got to work on this. 11. Never again try to keep up with your sorority sisters at a tailgate or pregame. You think you can. You can't. 12. Be forgiving of yourself and other people. The only person you expect more of than your friends is yourself, and that's not fair to anyone. It's ok for others to make mistakes and it's ok for you to as well. 13. The boy who disappeared on you when you needed him, who made you feel dirty time and time again, who still yanks you around and plays games, who wants to talk to you then doesn't, who tells you pretty things and then turns around with a double edged sword, who for some reason you're still drawn to, is not worth it. You like him a lot but he makes you feel like shit. He's treated you like you're not worthy of any respect. He says the same pretty things to fifty other girls. You're no exception and he's not going to change. He's not worth it. Say it enough and you'll start to believe it. 14. You don't fully know who you are yet, but that's okay, because you figure out more every day.
