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Today marks the day of my 23rd birthday and I cannot quite believe it, the year of being 22 has flown by, and I can’t really say that’s a bad thing as that year sucked, a lot. However, some good things did come out of it, like previous years and it’s a damn good feeling to come out the other side. If you follow my blog, you’ll know I like to reflect a lot on my life and my blog is usually the place I come to do it. I spent ages trying to think of the correct title for this post, as I wanted to share things I am proud of, as well as things I’ve learnt whilst being on this planet for 22 years. As this is my birthday post I decided to make it a little different although a haul will soon follow (true blogger style) for now here is 23 things I’ve learnt so far and a few photos of me from when I was younger.
1. Growing up isn’t as good as it seems:
When you’re a teenager and getting told what do by your parents, all you want to do is grow up and be in control of your life, what I’d give for now to have all of my bills and food paid for, as well as all of that free time. Homework is a doddle compared to university work and going to work full time.
2. Teenage years were hard, man.
I swear as a teenager, nothing was ever simple. If it wasn’t a boy breaking your heart, it was learning who you were, dealing with growing up, losing friends, coping with your sexuality, talking to people on the internet who you couldn’t ever meet. Damn.
3. Papa Johns has the best pizza I’ve ever tasted.
4. I got two bunnies in 2017, and they’re amazing. I love watching them grow and their amazing personalities shine.
5. It’s important to love (or at least like) your job.
A lot of us spend more time at work than we do at home, so it’s pretty key to love/like what you do. For me, I have a little work family and they’re all super supportive. I have never felt more like I fit in, and the work is pretty enjoyable too.
6. It’s ok not to wear makeup every day:
From the age of 15 until 22, I would not go out the house without some kind of makeup on, whether that be eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, foundation or all of the above. I couldn’t cope with how I felt and looked. I would love to say I’m ok with how I look without as I’m not really, however it’s ok to give yourself a break.
7. I passed my driving test. (FINALLY!)
This has been my goal since I turned 18, I have given up learning a bunch of times and have been put off tests for life, however, I managed to stay strong and get through my driving test. Despite it being damn scary.
8. I made a blog and fell in love with it.
Since 2014 I’ve been writing this blog, that me and my friend tried to think of punny names for back in college, the name has always felt like me. It’s fun and colourful, yet I can feature my mental health posts, I am forever worried about oversharing, but you guys, my readers seem to be ok with that.
9. People can be the worst, but they can also be the best.
10. Online dating CAN work. Weirdly, I’ve met some of the best and the worst people in my life on dating sites. However, some of the bad ones have turned into me meeting other people who I consider now to be friends. I also found Will on a dating site and he makes me happier than anyone else ever has.
11. Skincare is important.
12. Taking photos from below instead of above will never give you a good angle.
13. It’s okay that your style hasn’t really changed since your ’emo’ days.
I was forever being called emo as a teenager, and looking back on it I did fit the stereotype, I never really grew out of it. Black is still my favourite colour to wear, dark hair and dr martens, but I love my style.
14. Changing your name is a pretty big thing to do, however, I did it and it’s made me so much happier, for those of you who don’t know, I changed my first and middle name and you can read more about this here.
15. Mean girls is one of the best films, period.
16. Your parents can be, right? As a teenager, like most, I would not believe a thing my parents told me about growing up, however it turns out they were mostly right.
17. Nandos do great vegetarian food. True story.
18. It’s okay to drop those who treat you any less than you deserve to be treated. Whether that be a friend, family member or partner, you deserve the world and if someone isn’t willing to give you that. Drop em.
19. You can never have enough pyjamas.
20. You can have friends everywhere, some of my best friends are online and I couldn’t imagine having them in my life, they mean so much to me.
21. We all make mistakes. We are human. It’s ok.
22. Even after being classed as an adult for the last 5 years I still feel like I am 16 years old and pretty clueless about the world.
23. Friends has been around for my entire life and it’s still as good as the first time I watched it.
Thanks for reading my post and for being a part of my Dungarees & Donuts journey so far!
