what 23 taught me.

the people who really matter will always stick around. even when you try to ignore them.

when you feel like you have nothing, try thinking of what it is you really need at that specific moment. chances are, you don't need it at all.

when you wake up and start by thanking God for the basics, your day only goes up from there.

$20 target shoes can last you three summers if you treat them with love. and people will still ask where you got them.

be thankful for good health, it can change so quickly and take a long time to regain...if ever.

the universe really does give back what you put out.

being positive isn't the cure to all of life's problems- but being negative doesn't cure anything either and it hurts you more than anyone else.

life is precious, we should remember it and act accordingly.

when you don't feel like going out, but someone invites you, you should make every effort to go. you never know who you'll run into and what will come of that encounter.

always wear nice clothes and smile. people notice.

when love is real, it hits you out of no where and doesn't let go. real love cannot, and should not, be ignored.

embrace and nurture the relationships that are good in your life. they are few and incredibly worthy investments because they return more than money can ever buy.

cut off the bad relationships.

cutting off bad relationships doesn't have to be literal, it can mean removing the value that person once had in your life.

when it hurts to think, listen to good music.

sometimes a second opinion isn't needed.

the more people you share your problems with, the more confused you'll end up. speak to few, and select them carefully.

a little paint can make a house a home.

share good books with good friends. and find a way to share all good things you come across with others.

do whatever scares you more often and it won't anymore.

give compliments freely- but mean them- especially to strangers. its the one thing guaranteed to make someone happy.

if you only focus on your problems, you drown. if you focus on others' problems, you drown. just keep swimming. the solutions will find you.

wear sunscreen

nothing is EVER permanent. change is all you can count on, and if you want it to be positive you must change your perspective and adapt to whatever comes your way.

fold the laundry and put it away as soon as you get home- or it will sit in a corner all week.

always get a manicure before an interview or date.

when its REALLY scary, do it. it's always worth it in the long run.

really good running shoes are a better investment than a gym membership.

sit up straight when you're at work.

when you put too much information about your life on facebook, friends don't feel the need to call and see whats new.

if you want phone calls, pick up your phone and dial. people can't read your mind.

frozen blueberries and greek yogurt are fantastic.

forgiveness, as hard as it may be, is always the first step toward healing. you have to give it to whoever hurt you as well as yourself.

put the lighter fluid on the charcoal and let it sit for five minutes BEFORE lighting it.

your weight will go up and down. your money comes and goes. jobs are never guaranteed. people you love hurt you. none of that matters. no matter HOW MUCH it feels like it does- the biggest blessing we have, is the ability to adapt and move forward.

eat breakfast every day.

silence the noise around you and take time to clear the clutter. whether it means turning off your phone or deactivating your social networks online. when you can be still amidst the chaos in your life, you hear important instructions you'd otherwise miss.

never question how others think of you or feel about you, all that matters is how you feel about them.

priorities don't end with your to-do list. you must always maintain focus on your life's priorities and fit people and situations into your life accordingly.

anger is useless. but sometimes, you have to allow yourself the time to feel the rage, contain it, and put out the fire. when this is the case, don't rush the process.

never apologize for your honest feelings.

your parents are only human, and they make very big mistakes too. you're no longer oblivious to them.

meditation before bed keeps your mind fine-tuned. when you focus your thoughts on what matters and what you want most in your life, your ability to open up and receive these things multiplies.

when you feel like your problems are too much to bear, help someone else out with theirs for a while.

taste new foods, meet new people, do new things, visit new places...preferably, on your own. make yourself vulnerable to everything the world has to offer.

enjoy being penniless. make use of your creativity and understand that....money...will....come.

ask friends for help when you really need it, you never know what they're willing to do for you.

eat a real dinner before going out to drink.

call men out and question their intentions. you have nothing to lose if they walk away, at least you were clear.

have many, many friends. friends for different occasions, shallow friends, deep friends, if you can relate in any way- keep them around. but have only few close friends to depend on.

there is no such thing as the right thing, only the right thing for you in this moment.

if you get a tattoo, think it over for at least six months.

put 100% of your energy and love into EVERYTHING you do.

cook special meals for your friends.

call your parents and tell your family you love them often.

send a card to an old friend every now and then. it feels good.

a bad job is never worth suffering through.

love as many people as you can, with as much of your heart as you can. life is too short to hate anyone.

try, fail, try again and fail better. its all you can do.

love the success, but love the failure equally because its what brings you to your next (even greater) success. it's what shapes you and makes you greater than you were before you suffered through it.

carry personal business cards with you- they are always impressive.

dance and sing when you're home alone if the mood strikes. nothing gives you a greater release.

appreciate the bad things that happen to you and learn something from it.

be kind to yourself. feed yourself well, exercise, get enough sleep, and most importantly, remind yourself of your strengths. we find it so easy to be loving toward our friends while being our own worst enemy. when you can't remember whats so great about you, turn to someone you know, trust and love.

give your job 100% of your attention, and treat your position (as low as it may be) as though it's the most important.

don't complain. make the most of situations. do your part to make life easier for others, and they'll likely do the same for you.

take care of sick friends.

put your phone away and give the people you're with all of your attention...nothing matters more than living in the present moment.

stop thinking about what others have done to hurt or hinder you.

pursue happiness. in everything, in every possible way, just find your happiness. and when you find it, even in something small, share it.

work hard. maintain as many professional relationships as possible.

live abundantly. as though you have more than you need, no matter how little you have. somehow, you'll always have enough to share.

and again, for extra emphasis, dress well.

keep growing, and when you realize others aren't growing with you, accept that they were with you when you needed them to be in your life.

there is always some divine reason for why things come together and fall apart in your life. don't worry about the reason if you don't understand it that moment. you will.