23 Things I've Learned Upon Turning 23

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Hey, y’all! Hope everyone is having a wonderful week so far, especially now that it’s finally warmer and sunnier outside with spring in full bloom and summer around the corner! I’m certainly having an awesome week so far because yesterday was my birthday! I’m now 23-years old, which means it’s finally my LeBron year!

I love birthdays, whether I’m celebrating my own or someone else’s. There’s just so much happiness and positivity surrounding them. And it’s even better when they’re spent with the people and community that mean the most to you! Some people; however, start to dislike birthdays as they get older. I’ve heard some people say how 23 is the age when everything starts to become crappy. There’s crazy ideas that say people suddenly dislike you when you 23 (cue Bob Dylan) and how you officially hit your mid-twenties (which to some people is “halfway through life”). I refuse to believe all that though because it’s just plain stupid and nonsense.

I do admit that I’ve been a little anxious about turning the big 2-3. Age pretty much keeps going up at this point. 22 was a fun age, so it was kind of a bummer to leave it behind (now I don’t have an excuse to sing and dance to Taylor Swift’s “22” whenever I want!). I wish I could stay young forever! However, I see every new age as a new chapter in my life. I also see it as an opportunity to become more mature and wise, which leads to even more experiences. And as I grow older, my goal is to keep experiencing and learning. Therefore, I believe 23 is going to be an even better year!

So in honor of my 23rd birthday, here is a list of 23 things I’ve learned upon turning 23:

1.) Always trust God and turn to Him no matter what.

2.) Don’t compare your insecurities to other people’s highlight reels.

3.) Stress isn’t healthy, so find ways to reduce it and take care of yourself.

4.) It’s okay to say no, and it’s also okay to say yes.

5.) Stay on a budget to keep yourself from becoming a major shopaholic.   

6.) Self-care isn’t selfish.

7.) Explore the world while you can, even if you can only afford locally at the moment.  

8.)  Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself.  

9.)  Time flies (literally), so enjoy every moment you’re given. 

10.) It’s okay to unfollow or mute people on social media.

11.) Sometimes you need to let go in order to let God bring bigger and better things into your life. 

12.) Age is just a number. I’ll always consider myself a curious kid at heart. Never lose that sense of childlike wonder!

13.) It’s not weak to ask for help.

14.) Everybody is going to have an opinion about you. But then again, the only opinion that matters is yours.  

15.) Practice gratitude on a daily basis.

16.) Washing your hair 3-4 (sometimes even 2) times a week is a lot healthier, especially when you have super thick and long dark hair.   

17.)  Make to-do lists, even if you don’t have time to make a to-do list.

18.) Even though he left Cleveland (twice), LeBron James is still amazing AF … I had to throw him in there at some point.

19.) Jealously is a normal human emotion, but don’t let it eat you up.  

20.) You don’t need permission to follow your dreams.  

21.) Water and eye cream are key factors to a youthful face.

22.) Just make the damn appointment to see the gynecologist and get it over with. It sounds uncomfortable (and it is, don’t get me wrong), but you’ll be much more happy when you’ve finally gone.

23.) Only happiness can be achieved, not perfectionism.

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I look forward to see what 23 has in store for me! I have no doubt that I’ll learn even more valuable lessons and have experiences that I’ll gratefully look back on when I turn 24 ✨