20 Life lessons I learned before turning 20

What has life got to offer? A lot of things, but they don't come as a gift that you just have to unwrap. Like a video game, you need to have the strength and courage to fight in order to win, and bingo! You get all the coins. But it's not just a coin we're talking here. It's the game itself, and how to play it wisely.

This list is basically composed of personal experiences. Others are secondhand, and there are some from the books I read or movies I watched.  Now, begin..

1. Everything you are capable of thinking needs to have an outlet. Or else you're going to explode. You see, there's a lot to do with the world aside from posting something on social media.
2. You can't choose the people who enter your life, but you can choose who to trust it with. Stop staying with those who destroy your self-esteem.
3. Time does betray. Sometimes you have it all, sometimes you lose it all.
4. There are no next times, just live the moment. Opportunity knocks only once, make the most out of it.
5. You can't make something happen by just praying it would. Supernatural forces got nothing to do with success. You only have your own power and the will to do things.
6. You can own things but not people; you can belong to people but not to things. Never confuse both.
7. Say things honestly only when you are asked. Some people would take advantage but most just won't care.
8. You don't have to take life seriously. Remember, you'll never get out alive. Have some fun. It's okay to get fucked up sometimes.
9. The happier you are, the kinder you get. Stay away from being bitter.
10. Nothing beats someone who reads books, watches different films, and listens to all kinds of music. These elements help you become better and intellectual person.
11. You don't have to keep in touch with a true friend. When you see each other after a long time, everything becomes more exciting.
12. You're the only one who can control yourself. Be careful. People loves power. Stay grounded.
13. "If it's meant to be, it will be" is a hoax. Get things done, my dear. A diploma will not just come and wake you up one morning.
14. Take care of your body. Your future self will thank you for it.
15. Learn new things one at a time. It's good to be multi-skilled but someone who's good at everything will never be the best at something.
16. If you want something to happen, focus on doing it. Yeah, fine.
17. Write everything. Ideas, events, quotes on that film, lyrics, letters. The ones you never want to forget. Just write it down. You never know what good it'll bring.
18. Conquer evil with good. That way pisses them haters more.
19. Maturity knows no age. It's not about having graduated at highschool or losing your virginity or reaching a milestone. It's when you realize something in you has changed and you accept that you can never go back again.
20. Live while you're alive. There's more to life than having a decent job or earning a good salary. Do not just live to pay taxes! 

That's it! Actually there are instances that I still don't learn my lesson although I already went through the same experience. Maybe there are just moments you can't accept to be just a lesson learned, rather an item to correct. You see, "take" may have the prefix "mis" and get a mistake, but we all got another prefix which is "re" for us to retake. 

Well, I'm turning 20 in less than an hour, and I have better dreams now.

xx, gayle