What I Wish I Knew At Age 22

Here's everything everyone wish they knew at the age of 22. The number next to it indicates the age the author wrote it at.

Hey 22 year old, if you're spending all your time working for someone else, you're not building your dreams.

Hey 22 year old, it's okay to be a bit of a mess. Nobody has their life completely figured out, especially at this age. Some people are just better at hiding it than others.

Hey 22 year old, Ask your parents questions about their life; their past, their present, their future goals. Ask lots before you lose the chance to ask anything. They would love for you to ask.

Hey 22 year old, Financing your social life with a credit card is not a smart thing to do. No one will care (or remember) if you only have one or two drinks instead of the five or six that everyone else is having.

Hey 22 year old, Sign up for a half marathon, then figure out how to run it. In that order.

Hey 22 year old, Read a bunch of books on relationships, you don't know what you're doing.

Hey 22 year old, Don’t let guilt be the only reason you stay in contact with abusive family. Lots of people go through periods of estrangement. You deserve to live YOUR definition of happiness.

Hey 22 year old, It's 100% up to you to go after the things that make you happy. Spend some time thinking about things that make you happy and fulfilled, and then resolve to build a life around them. Following ideas others have for you is no good. This, now, is it.

Hey 22 year old, Not sure what you want to do when you “grow up”? Just move toward what you are interested in at the moment. What you are interested in right now is what you should do. Don’t worry about 30 years down the road. What do you like right now? Do that.

Hey 22 year old, When it comes to your career, just do something. Life has a way of weaving and moving in unexpected ways, so just get started and it will take you somewhere good.

Hey 22 year old, you only want to do a PhD because you're afraid of leaving education. A PhD is not just like three or four more years of Uni. You will need more self discipline than you're capable of. Just go find a nice steady job instead, and do the PhD later.

Hey 22 year old, Travel. As much as you can. Far away. Work at odd jobs, couch surf, hitch hike, whatever. You will have more responsibilities and less energy later. See the world.

Hey 22 year old, this is the prime time of your life, so don't listen to anyone. Make lot of mistakes, but learn from them. Be free, be excited, go on roadtrips, scream from the top of the mountain, count the stars. Just do whatever you want to do.

Hey 22 year old, No need to stay in a relationship that doesn't work for any reason. Plenty of time to find others, and love will follow. Love is easier with people who are good to get along with, successful, and self actualized.

Hey 22 year old, Admire successful people and create habits now that encourage similar life behaviors. In 10 to 15 years when you realize you've been living with the positive results of this, you'll be very glad that you did.

Hey 22 year old, You my feel heartbroken, but it will pass. Everything really does fade with the passage of time. You will get over it. If it was so good: it wouldn’t be over.

Hey 22 year old, By now you probably slowly start to really get into the meat of life and self-discovery. Don't take everything you learned in school or from your parents and friends at face value. Make up your own mind from scratch about everything. Choose yourself!

Hey 22 year old, just breathe.

Hey 22 year old, If your boss gives you advise or criticism at work, don't take it personal. Listen to what they have to say and learn from it.

Hey 22 year old, Learn to cook, if you haven't already. It's the single easiest way to keep yourself in good health, live independently and save money if you need to.

Hey 22 year old, Don't take a job as an admin or assistant unless you want to be one of those things. It can be hard to get out of that path if the plan was to take it as a stepping stone.

Hey 22 year old, You don't have to get married. Even more so, if you think you should, don't do it for that reason. Do it because you can't stay away from them. Do it because your life feels a thousand times richer with them. Do it because they're the one.

Hey 22 year old, make the impossible, POSSIBLE!

Hey 22 year old, Welcome to the working world. Create a budget NOW and stick to it. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to your bank account.

Hey 22 year old, Your first job. A dollar in your 401k here goes a lot further than a dollar in your 401k 20yrs from now. However, the best investment of all is reinvestment into your skills and future, however that might be.

Hey 22 year old, Start doing yoga. Today. I recommend a beginner's Ashtanga practice.

Hey 22 year old, Find the people who make you feel like you can do anything and you'll never be judged for it, the people who will love you unconditionally, and surround yourself with them. Build those relationships. None of the other ones matter.

Hey 22 year old, Sometimes relationships end even if both of you are good people, and that’s okay. Don’t compromise on your happiness.

Hey 22 year old, When you start a new job, be humble yet confident. Listen. Learn from not just your own mistakes but also from the mistakes of others.

Hey 22 year old, Trust your gut. If something feels wrong, then something is mostly wrong.