An Exclusive Peek Into My Journal
I wrote my first journal entry on January 22, 2023. For most of my life, I was anti-journaling. To be honest, it felt cheesy and I didn’t think I’d be able to take it seriously.
However, on 1/22/23 I decided to give it a shot. I was feeling incredibly overwhelmed and had tried many methods of getting my feelings out, yet nothing was working.
My first entry was only a paragraph. But, it worked. Releasing my emotions onto paper made me feel as though they were being validated by the universe, helping me to feel a sense of relief. From then, a tradition was born. When I felt anxious, I wrote.
While most of the time this little black book was treated as an outlet for my stress, there were certain occasions when I turned the pages to share lessons or happy news. Every New Year’s and birthday, which happened to serve as a mid-year check-in point as a June baby, I sketched out either what I had learned in the last year or what I wanted to work on going into the next one.
I now understand all those episodes of kids’ shows where someone freaks out on their sibling or friend for reading their journal behind their back. No one gets to read my journal.
But, for some reason, I’ve decided to break that rule today and share the entry I wrote the night before my 21st birthday in June of 2024 with the entire Internet. This is not something I take lightly, so feel special.
Without further ado, I give you:
21 Lessons I Learned Before My 21st Birthday
Wanting what’s best for others is a good quality, but being selfish is not always a bad thing. Prioritize yourself sometimes or you’re going to snap.
People show you what you mean to them. Let them.
Going for the comfortable option as a result of confidence issues is actually making your confidence worse. You’re awesome. Own it.
Your family will always be there for you. Everyone’s family dynamic is different.
Seemingly random people and situations are put into your life for a reason.
Being consistently praised is not a hoax. You are smart and hardworking. Have some confidence and stop downplaying yourself.
Feeling strong > agonizing over a number on a scale.
Accepting the help you are offered is evening the playing field, not cheating. And it helps. A lot.
Sometimes there is no deeper meaning for why people did what they did to you. Onwards and upwards.
Wear what makes you comfortable. Everyone’s body is different and that’s beautiful.
You automatically feel 10x cooler, more confident, and more put together when your nails are done. Bonus points for acrylics.
You can do hard things - you ran a half marathon, damn it!
Having a lack of plans ≠ doomsday. But, it’s ok to want the information you need to feel comfortable in a situation.
There’s evil in this world but there’s also good. I choose to believe there’s a whole lot more of the good.
Love is real whether you want to admit it or not. You know this is true because you are full of love.
Your nose piercing was a great choice.
You are a very good person. Bad people do not worry about being good people.
Quality > quantity when it comes to relationships. Always.
Choosing to live in crusty Craige was one of the best decisions you ever made. It continues to pay off years later.
Investing more money into items that will last longer is almost always a good idea (on my fifth cheap phone charger of the year… whoops).
Life is pretty damn awesome and you can bet your bottom dollar that I’m going to live it to the fullest. Let’s do this thing.
After writing this list I signed my name for the last time as my 20-year-old self, looked out the window of the train that was barreling towards the hometown I hadn’t returned to in years, and took a deep breath.
Maybe these lessons resonate with you and maybe they don’t. But that’s the beauty of journaling, isn’t it? It only has to make sense to me.
You heard it here first,
Kylie
