As last year I wrote a very emotional Letter to my 18 Year Old Self, this year I thought I would share 21 things that I learned at 21. Grab a coffee, this is going to be a long one!
Before I head straight into the post, I thought I'd quickly share with you what I wore for my 21st! I took these photos yesterday before I headed out (priorities haha) because I just couldn't wait to share my outfit with you!
YOU DO YOU
Say what you feel and don't hold back. Communication is key in life and expressing what you love can be so fulfilling. Starting this blog has been one of the best things I could have ever done and sharing it is even better. If I had have shyed away like my 15 year old self probably would have done, I really don't know where I would be today. Nobody cares about what you're doing as much as you think, as harsh as that sounds it is true. Everyone has far more things to be worrying about.
CATS ARE THE BEST
It definitely didn't take me 21 years to learn this, but the crazy cat lady that I am just feeds off their love. My cat Harry although stunning, can be a little cold sometimes (breaks my heart really) but his little face makes you so happy.
-It'll find you. I am a huge advocate of loving yourself before anyone can love you and one thing I learned over the years is that don't look for love, because it will find you. It comes when you least expect it (heck, even when you don't want it) and don't let it pass you by. Looking for love, in my opinion, only gets you something that you're settling for. Enjoy your time single with no ties to anyone, it is SO FUN however if someone comes along that can make you very happy, embrace it with open arms and see what happens!
EXPLORE MORE
I'm definitely well travelled but I want to see more, I just want to see the world. Spending last summer in San Diego taught me that I'm still so young and that I should enjoy myself and travel while I still can. Even travel Ireland more, I have grown to appreciate our Emerald Isle and I need to see more of it because there is so many beautiful places only two hours down the road.
SET YOURSELF GOALS
-and exactly how to achieve them because that is how you see results.
CELEBRATE EVERYDAY
Life is short and so unexpected. If my school years thought me anything, it would be that you never know when your world can be flipped in a second. When I was in fifth and sixth year in secondary school, two girls died on two separate occasions, quite unexpectedly. The deaths of two girls was a slap in the face and the reality check we all needed. Even though I only knew these girls to see, they both had such an impact on my life that I can't fully explain. All of the petty drama is ridiculous, do all of the school/ college work with a smile because at least you have the opportunity to do it. Celebrate everyday you have here with your health and tell everyone who you appreciate that you love them because who knows when they could be snatched away from you.
YOU'RE SHIT AT KEEPING IN CONTACT
As you go through life, it is destined to happen that you'll drift apart from friends but I'm the worst at keeping in contact with people. I can be just so focused and caught up with what I'm doing and time just goes by in a flash. It is something that I really want to work on about myself.
TIME MANAGEMENT IS KEY
Less Netflix and scrolling on Instagram, you'd be surprised how much you get done!
POST THE BLOODY INSTAGRAM
-and stop being such a fecking perfectionist!
STOP MIXING YOUR DRINKS
Mixing cocktails with wine and all the vodka on offer never ends well haha.
YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF YOU
With so much hatred in the world (looking at you Donald Trump) you need to be in charge of you and you can't control anything else. Throughout that whole time in history, between the US election and Brexit, I found the world to be a very negative place with everyone complaining about how useless all of the world's political systems are and about how the world is essentially doomed. That time thought me that at the end of the day, we may have powerful people above us that decide what we can and can't do, however you can't let them dull your sparkle. You are in change of whether you're going to make this world a happier place to live and that will not go unnoticed.
YOU CAN READ PEOPLE
I have a very good intuition about people but at the same time it takes a lot for me not to like someone, which I think is a good thing. I'm not one of those people who get irritated very easily by those around them so I tend to like most people I meet however trust your gut, when you meet someone and you don't have a good feeling about them, it is generally true.
My love for them started in San Diego and I will never look back.. Healthy and tasty- you can't go wrong 💕
DON'T HOLD BACK ON THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BECAUSE OF OTHERS
Luckily I feel like I actually don't do this very often.. Some could call it selfish but at the same time, you need to do what you want to do and letting someone else hold you back from that will only lead to regret.
COFFEE ISN'T THAT BAD
And you have 2 and a half years of working in a pub to thank you for realising that one.
JUST IGNORE THE DRAMA
It is too draining and life is too fecking short, but at the same time..
LET NO BITCH PUT YOU DOWN
You shouldn't let anyone treat you like shit and talk down to you. There is a difference between constructive criticism and letting someone talk crap about you, even if it is to your face.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN
Taking off your makeup every night and moisturising can be a pain but so worth it in the end. Brushing your teeth after a night out is a pain on another level, but I have to keep working on it haha.
NOBODY HAS A CLUE WHAT THEY ARE DOING
It's not just you. As I come into my final weeks of university, it is safe to say that although some may look like they have a plan, they are just as terrified as you.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL COME IF YOU JUST ASK
Chancing your arm can never be regretted, the worse they can do is say no and you never know what can come from it!
DUN LAOIGHRE IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA
It is my favourite place in Ireland and it always makes me so happy. Plus, Scrumdiddly's is there which makes it so much better!
TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN
Taking off your makeup every night and moisturising can be a pain but so worth it in the end. Brushing your teeth after a night out is a pain on another level, but I have to keep working on it haha.
NOBODY HAS A CLUE WHAT THEY ARE DOING
It's not just you. As I come into my final weeks of university, it is safe to say that although some may look like they have a plan, they are just as terrified as you.
Chancing your arm can never be regretted, the worse they can do is say no and you never know what can come from it!
DUN LAOIGHRE IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA
It is my favourite place in Ireland and it always makes me so happy. Plus, Scrumdiddly's is there which makes it so much better!
I find it hilarious even looking back at the letter I wrote to my 18 year old self last year, even since then I have faced so many obstacles and have grown up so much more than I could imagine. I know that I'll look back laughing at this post too because I have so much ahead of me and so much more growing to do. These are my favourite posts to write and I hope you have enjoyed reading this one.
