1. Life is infinitely less scary than you think that is going to be. Take a deep breath and just fucking do it. 2. Your body isn’t the problem. Stop channeling negative energy into changing your body and instead channel it into changing the way the world perceives it. 3. There is an energy that exists in the present that doesn't in our dreams. Sometimes life doesn't play out quite like the way your dreams have imagined they would. But instead, you're greeted with the heat of the moment passion filled fuck it. Sometimes saying fuck it and letting passion take the rains is even better than what your dreams had ever dreamed of. Listen to your dreams but follow the energy of the present moment. 4. Just because it's not happening right now doesn't mean it never will. 5. Your hometown isn't the real world. Your potential isn't locked between the corners you've grown up in. Get out and explore. You're made for things much bigger than this small town you've grown up in. 6. Be honest and upfront about what you want. Say how you feel, take chances, be vulnerable, speak your truth unapologetically. 7. Appreciate the chaos. When it's gone you'll wish it was there again. 8. Do the things you love because you love them. Not because you need to be successful at them. Sure, being successful and making your living of doing the things you love would be awesome. But that should never be the reason why you're doing them. 9. You know you're about to do something great when there's a couple of knots in your stomach. 10. Sometimes people are cruel with no explanation. Don't waste your time trying to figure out why someone left or why someone flipped a swich on you. It doesn't matter. Don't let toxic people control you. Drop them, cut them out and move the fuck on. 11. If you're feeling embarrassed, odds are whatever it is will probably make for a great story later on. 12. Taking yourself out on dates and doing little self appreciative acts goes a long way. You'd be surprised how empowered you'll feel after taking yourself out to dinner with nothing but a notebook. 13. Embrace your sexuality. It is unbelievably freeing to own your own body and be sexy for no reason other than you fucking want to so you fucking will. Some of us are empowered by modesty. Some of us are empowered by nudity. Embrace it and do whatever the fuck is right for you. 14. You must use your voice. Scream your opinions, stand up for what you believe in and make a difference. Even if it hurts, even if it's difficult, even if your voice shakes. 15. Taking time to do nothing else but just be alone is important. Schedule it in. Doing nothing every now and again is equally as important as doing something. 16. Just blurt it the fuck out and stop biting your tongue. 17. Crying doesn't make you weak. It makes you healthy. Let it happen. Cry your freaking heart out. It's all good. 18. There is a power within your own name. Find it. Harness it. Use it. Your future is entirely in your hands. Do whatever the fuck you want with it. Come on.
18 THINGS I LEARNED AT 18 by Maddie Fucking Dragsbaek @lightninq
