22 Lessons From 22 Years
Unless you're new here, you probably know that I love a good list. If you are new here -- hello! Welcome to my yearly birthday-lesson list. I am going into my twenty-second year with a pep in my step, listening to Taylor Swift's "22," and a cautious hopefulness about my future. Side note: this post features only selfies because my photo editing app wasn't working.
- Blogs are Fun, Funky, and Fresh
- Starting a blog freshman year won't solve all of your problems but it definitely can be fun.
- Education is Great, School is Exhausting
- After almost two decades spent in education, you can start to feel massive burnout. Education is a blessing and something I am lucky to have obtained. But, I just want to graduate. Please, Pitt, give me my very expensive piece of paper.
- Sometimes People Are Just Bad People
- You don't always have to justify a person's bad behavior. Sometimes, people are just not nice. It's best to distance oneself from these types of Debbie Downers.
- Women Apologize Too Much
- Often, I find myself apologizing when other people bump into me, or when others speak over me. In rehearsal for the play I'm currently in, we have a "no apologizing" rule, with a few exceptions. When a cast member (majority of which are female identifying) apologizes we all must do a pushup. Women don't have to apologize for existing.
- Branching out at Starbucks
- Chai lattes are good. Chai lattes with vanilla and coconut milk are even better.
- Not Everything Has to Be Profitable
- To be honest, I am still working on convincing myself of this one. But, the thought occurred to me awhile ago that just because I find a hobby I like, doesn't mean I have to find a way to milk it for profit. Some things can just be for fun, and that's okay.
- Strawberry Milk Still Sucks
- You may remember my 20th birthday list, where I passionately declared that strawberry milk sucks. This still stands. It has been two years and I have yet to touch that stuff with a 10 foot pole.
- When in Doubt, Read a Book
- I spoke about getting back into reading in a few of my other posts but I feel the need to bring it up again. Usually, I'm not much of a television or movie person. The only reason I've even seen Euphoria is because my roommate watches it. I finally found a creative outlet that doesn't bore me to death. Really, you just gotta love a good book.
- Saying Yes to Adventure is Best
- This one comes with a strong asterisk next to it, but I have started saying yes to doing more this year. I finally came to the realization that life won't wait for me. Saying yes to opportunities has led me to Boston, San Francisco (next week), and a lot more fun nights. Often, I find I regret it more when I pass on opportunities.
- Laundry is Always Awful
- If you have a quarter-ran laundry machine, you will never do laundry. Especially when living in a national coin shortage. Really stock up on underwear and socks.
- I Am Lucky
- I got COVID in late February. I had a head cold for about 4 days, and my breathing has been rocky for about 2 weeks now. Since I am all too used to not being able to breathe, this has resulted in me feeling pretty normal. I am very aware of how lucky I am. However, just know that I attribute my mild symptoms to my two vaccine doses, alongside the booster.
- Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers Were Right
- "How can a person know everything at 18 and nothing at 22." Maybe this realization is a sign of maturity. I have so much more growing to do. Physically, I am completely myself and always will be. However, I have so much more growing and learning to do in life before my well-rounded person is formed.
- The Job Hunt is Hard
- No one really prepared me for how hard the job search was. I apply to at least one place every day now, and it takes weeks to hear back, if at all. Really though, I haven't even gotten into the thick of it yet.
- Thumbs
- Having a cat with thumbs is a great way to get some extra attention when needed.
- Math is Hard, Coding is Not Easier
- Once again, I made the bold choice to do a comp sci course instead of math. Do I regret this? No, not at all. I cannot stand math (sorry to my former math teacher mother) no matter how decent I may be at it. At least with coding, the hours of stress pay off with a fun little output message.
- Patience is a Virtue
- Who am I kidding. I am so incredibly impatient, even at twenty-two. I rush often and tap my foot in anticipation even more. I constantly find myself waiting for the next thing. I look forward to learning how to slow down towards a peaceful pace.
- Times Goes By Fast
- A lot happened this year that made me reflect on the movement of time. Both of my childhood cats died rather suddenly. They have been in my life for 10+ years and in the blink of an eye they were gone. I don't remember when we grew up together, it is all a blur. I could have sworn I started college half a second ago, and now I am two months from graduation.
- Appreciate the Friends You Have
- Trying to climb a nonexistent social ladder is never worth it. Often it leaves you sad, lonely and unfulfilled. I've spent too many nights crying over people who clearly don't want to be my friend, rather than appreciating the wonderful friends I already have. After all, who else would watch the Muppet movies with me?
- Listen to Tons of Different Music
- In 2020, I challenged myself to listen to anything other than showtunes. I genuinely did not let myself turn on a Broadway playlist more than once a month or so. As a result, my music tastes have diversified so much. I found a love for indie pop, funk, and classical. Who would I be if I had never made it a goal to listen to a variety of music? Probably an infinitely more annoying person.
- Life Isn't Done When You Turn Twenty
- Or even twenty-two, believe it or not. I still have to work on convincing myself of this, but every now and then when I think to myself, "no I'm too old to start that" I have to take a step back. My early twenties is in fact, the perfect time to try something new. My roots are not yet planted, so I must keep growing.
- Maybe Learn a Little About Cars
- This year, I got a flat tire, a busted front axle, and a low oil thingy more than a few times. Well, the tire and axle were singular occurrences but I digress. I should probably learn how to do more than just check my oil. If nothing else, I could maybe look cool fixing my car on a busy road in Oakland, Pittsburgh.
- There is So Much More
- Sometimes it can seem like life is over (refer to point 20). The arbitrary deadlines I set for myself seem to sneak up on me. By the time I realize what age I am, it can feel too late. But, for whatever reason, I am more and more hopeful everyday that my life is going to be fantastic. I don't know if I am just at a high right now, or if my music has been upbeat. Really, it's probably just the ever fading gloom of winter. Whatever it is, whatever the cause of my hope is, I am going to grasp it with all I can. If I speak a good future into existence, then whatever may come was not for nothing or any lack of effort. I'm taking things one day at a time, and really, is that not the most blissful thing I could do for myself?
Here's to 22,
Sam
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