19.

19 feels so different from 18, it feels a whole lot different from how I thought it would feel. It feels a whole lot more scary than I thought it would feel. This week I haven't really blogged, partially because my laptop is being repaired and also because I've been feeling a little bit discouraged with my blogging progress. I thought that a birthday post would be a nice refreshing way to kick off another month of writing here on Blogs by Beckah! So without further ado, here are my '19 things I learned before 19'.

1. Family is everything. Don't neglect the people who will love you even when you wear too much black eyeliner in grade 7 or when you talk too much a boy you claim you don't like. They'll even love you when your black eyeliner is streaming down your face because of that same boy. So love them back, you fool.

2. Write things down before you confide in other people. You can't trust everyone to understand how you feel, writing it down will help you figure it out first and you'll get some great poems out of it.

3. Listen to your dad. He is literally ALWAYS right. He sees things before you do. Don't get offended, just listen.

4. Let things go. Don't hold on too tight to anything. If it was meant to be in your life it would be. Certain things last longer than others.

5. Coffee is good but water is better.

6. Don't listen to sad music if you're sad. Listen to something upbeat and uplifiting. What you listen to affects how you feel. 

7. You're always gonna need to leave in the middle of the movie to go to the bathroom. Order the drink anyways because if you don't you'll wish you did. Either way you can't outsmart your bladder.

8. Call your grandma frequently. Just do it.

9. Shoveling the driveway while it's snowing is never a good idea unless it's dark outside. Stand outside in the dark when it's snowing. It's magical.

10. Sleeping with one of your dad's shirts when he's on a business trip won't make the time go faster. It is comforting, so do it anyways.

11. Phone calls will always mean more than texts.

12. Hugs make everything better.

13. Learn how to take the bus, one day your mom isn't going to want to drive you everywhere 

14. Good friends are hard to find and generally easy to keep. A good friendship isn't hard work because it's reciprocated. It will pull through against any odds. Even distance.

15. Wear your retainer when you're supposed to, it hurts more when you don't. 

16. Always bring a book, headphones and chapstick with you wherever you go.

17. Don't shop by yourself. You need someone else's opinon on that dress for your birthday or on those TNA socks. And no, the socks are not worth it. 

18. Do your homework on Friday nights. Sunday is not meant for stress. 

19. Don't expect yourself to be someone you aren't. You'll be disappointed every time. Be who you are and work to improve but never try to be more than you're comfortable being. Someone will love you and appreciate you for who you are and those people won't expect you to be someone else. You'll be so much happier this way.