18 Things I Have Learned in my 18 Years of Life

This month, I will officially be 18 years old. Turning 18 sounds cool, but, for me, it’s mostly intimidating. 

Big things are going to take place. Some of them, I can’t wait to tell y’all! Others, they aren’t as exciting.

In an attempt to better my perspective of becoming older, I wrote down 18 things I have learned in my 18 years of life. I hope you will join me in this journey!

For those who read the whole post, there is a surprise waiting at the end. You could also scroll to the bottom without reading the whole post, but the reward will be sweeter for those who restrain from ruining the surprise.

18 Things I Have Learned

1. Our bodies are created uniquely & wonderfully. One of the biggest things I have learned is the importance of loving my body. We may have similar anatomical structures, but we are all unique. Some of us have tons of freckles. Others don’t. 

I have also learned that even when my body is unable to do what I need it to, it’s still possible to find joy.

2. Being health-conscious is good… When done properly. Along the same lines, I have realized that being health-conscious is a tricky matter. It’s amazing to strive towards a healthy heart and bones, but we have to be careful not to idolize health. 

I have had to learn how to balance my diet. The goal is to fuel my body with the right amount of nutrients. God didn’t create food to be a stresser or guilt-inducer.

3. Lighthearted conversations are fun too. As an INFJ on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, I have the tendency to dig into deep conversations with the people I’m close to.

Recently, I have realized that lighthearted conversations are just as important. I may not learn the deep inner workings of people from lightheartedly chatting, but I am still connecting with them.

4. Music speaks to the soul; choose it wisely. I love music. My life feels empty without listening to music at some point during the day. It speaks to my soul and helps ground me. 

Because of the way music has the power to do this, my parents taught me to choose music wisely. If we listen to music with the wrong messages or morals too often, we will subconsciously start thinking that way. 

5. Reading the Bible is a big deal. I’ve always struggled to read the Bible consistently. I often wondered if it was important. Over the years, I have discovered the answer.

The Bible is not meant to stay tucked away in a draw. The God-inspired words heal broken hearts and guide weary souls.

6. Books are actually awesome. Okay, I have a confession. I was that kid who hated books. None of them resonated with me–they were boring. (Book lovers, please forgive me.)

As I have gotten older, books have become more exciting. My mama was right; I didn’t hate books, I just hadn’t found the right one for me. Now I have found several! I’m especially keen on Rachel Fordham’s books.

7. Words can change the world. I believe words can make the world a better place, but I also know that words can destroy the world.

Anybody can change the world with words; only the bravest people will put in the effort to change it in a God-glorifying way.

8. Be authentic & silly. I have always tried to stay authentic, but, here lately, I have been trying to allow my quirks and silliness to show themselves a little more. I am not doing as good as I wish I was. 😅

I gravitate towards excessive emojis when the situation is fitting. Super high socks are my style. Wildly dancing around in the living room with my little siblings makes my heart burst with happiness. 

It’s okay to be ourselves, and it’s definitely okay to be silly or weird!

9. Aliens & Bigfoot probably don’t exist, but they could! One of the biggest debates of humankind: Do aliens & bigfoot exist? If you have ever wondered where I stand on this topic, here lies your answer.

10. Hallmark is unrealistic. It’s a well-known fact that Hallmark is roughly 80% unrealistic when it comes to romantic relationships. This has upset me more than once, however, I now know that real-world relationships are better off defying Hallmark’s standards. 

Yes, couples should keep the romance alive, but the mundane moments can be enjoyable as well. 

Relationships are not only made up of the best and worst days. They are also made up of all the days in between. The mundane moments will one day be happy memories. 

Furthermore, the moments of tribulation can be the very moments that strengthen the relationship the most.

11. Distance is HARD, but it’s survivable. I have been in a long distance relationship since I was 12 (a long story for another time). I have learned so many things from it. The ultimate thing being that distance is beyond difficult. 

Surviving the distance is possible though! Not only is it possible, but it also has its own unique beauties.

12. Brownies are the bomb. I could never choose my favorite sweet. That feels like betrayal. There are simply too many to pick from! I do know one thing though. I think God made cacao trees with brownies in mind.

13. Friendship is worth it. I used to think that friendship wasn’t my thing, but I have come to realize that it’s worth fighting for. 

A good friend is someone you can enjoy life with. A good friend is worth all the ups and downs.

14. Kids are precious. There is a lot of negative content out there about kids, but I want to say something positive about them.

In my experience, they make us think about our actions and the motives behind them. Why do we love Jesus? Why do we need to eat our veggies? 

Kids even go as far as calling us out when we are in the wrong, causing us to reflect on our lives. To me, no matter how annoying it may be, that isn’t a bad thing.

Ultimately, they are simply trying to learn the world around them. Can their curiosity or poor manners be annoying? Yes! 

But they are still learning. When little kids are present in our lives, we have the amazing opportunity to teach them how to discover the world in a God-glorifying way.

15. We can pray about anything. It’s easy to feel shy while praying to our Heavenly Father, but I have learned that I can talk to Him about everything. 

I can express my doubts, fears, and worries. I can tell Him my darkest secrets. I can pray about my future. I can pray for a better mannered digestive system. I can praise Him for weird, good things. 

God already sees everything, so it’s okay to welcome Him into every part of our lives.

16. Roll with the punches. Frustrating things happen. Change is a natural part of life. We can’t avoid certain things, but we can choose how we respond to them.

As hard as it is for me to do, I have been trying to worry less and roll with the punches better.

17. Look towards the sun. Along the same lines, I am always learning new ways to look for the sunshine in the haziness of life. Even if that looks like turning my closed eyes towards the actual sun and allowing vitamin-D to absorb into my skin.

18. I am good enough. While I have always tried to stay true to myself, I can’t deny how I crave to be good enough in the eyes of the people I care about.

I was the kid who asked Jesus to live in my heart every Sunday because I felt like I wasn’t good enough for Him to stay there. 

I was the young teen who almost never slept in because I didn’t want to be seen as lazy. 

I am the person who, most of the time, feels a deep sense of grief when someone is unhappy with me. Why? Because it is a reminder that I fall short sometimes. 

I may not always feel good enough, but I have come to realize that I will always be enough in the sight of God.

I must simply believe it, and get out of bed everyday with the confidence that I am good enough to serve the Lord with diligence and love. 

Am I perfect? No, but I know I am a beautiful work-in-progress.

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Back to the Beginning

From the beginning of my existence to this very moment, I have been learning new things everyday.

As time goes on, I will continue to learn and grow as a human being. I thank God for giving me life. It may not be easy, but it is beyond precious.

Speaking of precious, as a prize for reading this post, here is a picture of me when I was a baby. Wasn’t I adorable? 😂

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Keep praying & hoping,

Autumn Rebecca