18 Lessons for 18-Year-Old Me

This year, I turned 28 years old. It’s at times both too young and too old. With 28 came a new identity that feels very different compared to 25, 21 or 18. Despite questioning who I am for most of my life, this year is the first time I feel I’m starting to understand what that means. Between diving into my past and planning ahead for my future, I accept who I am like never before and feel excitement about how I am showing up in the world. I know I have a lot of growing left to do, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I have had the honour of becoming “Aunt Jill,” and this new title has prompted me to reflect on the past 10 years and the lessons I’ve learned. These 18 lessons would have helped me if I had known them at 18, and I hope you can learn something from my experiences. 

1. Despite how it may seem, there’s not one person in the world that has it figured out. No one knows what they’re doing, and everyone just makes it up as they go along. 
2. Growth sometimes means recognizing all the things about yourself you’d like to change and yet accepting yourself as you are.
3. The friends that you can pick up where you left off with, no matter how long it’s been since you were last with them, are your forever friends.
4. Some people whom you believed would always be a part of your life may not be present anymore. Relationships change over time, and other people may not be as close to you as they once were. In the same way, new friends may arrive in your life unexpectedly!
5. Right now, everyone is in the same stage of life as you. That will change so dramatically, and you’ll realize there’s no set path or “right way” to live your life.
6. Sunscreen is actually really important.
7. We are nature. Getting outside and connecting to it restores your well-being like nothing else. Hugging a tree is surprisingly helpful.
8. You can always wish away your body. You’ll long for the body you had, the body you could have, or the body someone else has. It’s easy to wish this; it’s harder to make your body your home.
9. FOMO becomes IJWTSH (I Just Want To Stay Home).
10. When no one is taking care of you anymore, you have to learn to ask for support and what you need (this is a 10-year lesson in the making!!).
11. You can’t do whatever you want with your life. We all have barriers and limits. But combine your wishes for the world with your skills, and you’ll find yourself in the place of your dreams.
12. The key to life is balance, but it’s impossible to balance everything all at once. Friends, work, money, family, school, cleaning your house, physical health, mental health, travelling, and fun are all part of a juggling act that makes you prioritize one thing at a time. Something will slip, and that’s okay.
13. You can make so many things at home with just six ingredients – flour, sugar, baking soda, yeast, salt, oil. From pizza dough to bread, pretzels and more! It’s unbelievable and so satisfying to create food for yourself. (SuperCook is also a great resource that helps you find recipes using the ingredients you have on hand).
14. Always have a plan for the future that you look forward to. The simple things you loved as a kid, like sleepovers with your friends, jumping in a pool and getting your favourite treat, can be enough!
15. Taking care of yourself means tending to your mind, body, and soul so that you are ready for whatever life may bring.
16. You’ll be surprised how much a new leaf on your houseplant or in your garden can excite you.
17. No matter how independent you are, you can’t go through life all by yourself. Keeping in touch with your people and creating a community around you make life a whole lot better.
18. When we take the time to understand ourselves and our feelings, the way we show up in the world changes. Feelings can move through you in the space of one song (piano instrumentals are great for this!), one run in the rain or one long hike in the woods. If you don’t take the time to notice your emotions, they build up and will release on their own, taking a lot more time (days, weeks, years) to process and listen to.

We at mindyourmind love to celebrate the voices of young people across the globe! If you would like to add to this list, create your own or write about your experiences, we’d love to hear them and share them on our website. Check out our Expression section for other ideas on how youth have expressed themselves and their mental health journey!