I'm finally 18!! 

And to celebrate this joyous occasion with you guys, I thought I'd list 18 things I've learnt over my 18 years of life so far. 

1. Don't be afraid to be alone; there is nothing wrong with going for a walk by yourself, spending a night in bed reading or going to a cafe alone. Be okay with being alone. 

2. Accept that you will sometimes be wrong; accept that and be okay to admit when you are. 

3. Never be ashamed to tell someone how much you appreciate them; whether it's just a simple I love you or thanks for being my friend it's important to tell the good people in your life just how much you appreciate them. It's a terrible feeling to lose someone and not remember the last time you told them how much you cared about them. 

4. Be able to forgive yourself; no matter what you've done admit it, move on and strive to grow. 

5. Change isn't as simple as it sounds; whether it be moving schools, towns, states, countries. It may sound like a nice idea but be prepared for your life to change. It may be for the good but also be prepared for the bad. Just remember to not give up!

6. Tips for watching the Victoria Secret Fashion Show; have a bowl of ice cream in hand and remember to not feel ashamed or insecure - just sit back, watch the pretty lingerie and enjoy that ice cream!

7. No one but you is in control of your body; what you do with YOUR body is YOUR choice and no one else's. Don't let someone push your boundaries or make you feel uncomfortable - speak up. 

8. Don't get into a relationship until you are fully accepting of yourself; find happiness within yourself before you search for it in another person. 

9. Be aware of sexual objectification and the double standards created by media; don't buy into it and certainly don't believe it. 

10. Never use the word slut in a derogatory way; there is NEVER an appropriate time to call someone a slut. People are entitled to their own way of life and as long as it isn't hurting anyone around them or the people involved you don't need to comment on their choices. 

11. Be confident; whether it's faked confidence or you've mastered real confidence - speak loudly, speak confidently and don't let anyone push you around. 

12. Don't be afraid to ask for help; whether it be something as simple as asking a friend to help you with an assignment or asking a close friend for advice, don't be afraid to speak up and ask for guidance. 

13. Live without limits; remove the term I can't from your vocabulary and remind yourself that life is a mental game. Remember that you can do whatever you set your mind to. 

14. Learn your alcohol limit; you can always tell where your breaking point is when it comes to alcohol. Find the point where you're having fun, but not going to regret it (or anything) the next morning.

15. Don't settle for bad coffee; find a cafe that brews good coffee and treat yourself - you don't deserve crappy coffee. 

16. Update your playlist regularly; you don't want to be listening to the same music for months and months. Create a new playlist for each month!

17. Learn when it's okay to express your religious/political views and when it's not; don't encroach on people's lives by forcing your religious or political beliefs on them and creating an uncomfortable social environment.

18. Live the life YOU want to live.