“There is still no cure for the common birthday.” – John Glenn
I recently turned 19, and as weird as it feels knowing that this will be my last year as a teenager it feels even weirder to look back on how much I have learned and grown in the past year. As mentioned previously my life has been anything but conventional, this year was no different.
My 18th Year Of Life
My year started off with my in California in the middle of a pandemic. I believe it was my first birthday that I had to spend away from my family which was a somewhat difficult situation. Since then, not in chronological order, I have:
- Moved back to Kansas
- Gotten promoted
- Bought a car
- Went on multiple road trips by myself
- Quit my job
- Got a new job
- Started working part-time at Praxis
- Made new friends
- And more
In the past year, I pushed, but also slightly forced, myself to gain a lot more independence. I went on road trips by myself to Canyon Lake, Smithville. and Colorado. I moved more times than one would expect in a single year. Challenging my world views, I gained opinions on what really matters to me. But through it all, I made sure to continue being open to everyone else. The biggest thing I have learned through the past year is how important it is to listen. It is something we’re all capable of but few actually take advantage of.
There is so much that you can accomplish in life, you just have to allow it in. Saying yes used to be a big fear of mine but now I go for it. There are a lot of moments in the past year that I previously would have talked myself out of but I am so thankful that I have challenged myself to experience them.
I am so excited to see what this next year brings me. I know that there is a lot more of life I have yet to experience and I’m welcoming it with open arms.