Sayonara to my 20's.

It's true.  My birthday has come and gone.  I can officially say I'm 30 (yikes!)  Better than being 6' under though.  It hit me 2 days ago "holy shit, I'm 30."  It's true that time seems to speed up the older we get.  

I wanted to document some things I learned in my 20's and what better way to say sayonara 20's, and hello 30's than to remember some very important life lessons I learned in my 20's?  

Dear 20-something-year-old-Nicole:

• Go to college right after high school.  Seriously, you will not remember half the shit you learn in high school, and I'm pretty sure your brain is not nearly spongey enough when you haven't had to read text books in 10 years.
• Life goes on after your first love.  Contrary to what you thought as a teenager and half way through your 20's, your life does not begin & end with him.  Do NOT waste any time trying to make something work.  It either works, or it doesn't. Never settle.
• Time is precious.  Seriously.  It goes by way too fast, you spend too much time doing things you have to, so spend your free time enjoying whatever you want to do.
• Your former place of employment, where you had the worst, stinky boss in existence, actually brings you the 2 loves of your life.  Your beau & your best friend aka sister from another mister.
• Say sorry.  Don't hold grudges.  Forgive.  Not for them, but for you.  Resentment will eat you alive inside.  
• Set goals.  Achieve them.
• The person you were, does not have to be the person you are.  You can always change.  It is never too late to be what you might have been.
• Words hurt.  Taste them before you spit them out.
• A Father is someone who should always be there for you.  You will end up having an amazing bond with yours.  Better late than never.  
• Always listen when someone wants to tell you something.  Keep a secret.  Let people trust you. Trust people.
• Broken hearts can be mended.  You have gone through times where it literally felt like your heart had broken in half.  It will heal. 
• Friends come and go, but best friends are forever.  
• Believe in yourself.  You can and you will.
• Do things for people without expecting anything in return.
• Jury duty is not that bad.
• Be a good person.  Have a high moral compass.  Surround yourself with people that support you and praise you, and do the same thing for those people.
• Wear sunscreen.
• Rap music sounds awful the older you get.
• You are at the age you start saying "when I was a kid...."
• Break your own dating rules.  Seriously, it will be one of the best decisions of your entire life.
• Lil Wayne is an idiot.
• Your hair will start turning gray.  Just like your Dad's.  That's okay, there's always hair dye. Appreciate that you still have hair.
• It's true what they say, you are really more confident the older you get.  Don't let anyone take that from you.
• Keep saying your prayers every night.  
• Appreciate everything you have.  The good and bad.  Everything happens for a reason.