Ten Things Courtlin Has Learned in the Last 10 Years

And just like that, the 2010s are over and done.

I've been spending a lot of time reflecting these past few weeks, and one of the things I've thought about the most is how much has changed since the start of the decade. At the beginning of 2010, I was 18-years-old, lived with my mom in Michigan, had no IDEA what I wanted to do with my life (I figured it out in the middle of that year, as you see in the photos above), and was in a very unhealthy long-term relationship. Now I'm 28-years-old, I just moved into my own rental home in Iowa, I have a career that I love, and I'm single as single can be. Most importantly, I'm pretty happy.

In honor of the end of the decade, I put together a list of 10 important lessons that I learned in the last 10 years. There are times when I totally ignore these lessons and do what I want to do, but hey, I'm human. I'm still growing!

Never beg someone to stay. If they don't want to be a part of your life, then you don't need them.
Not everybody wants to be your friend. Not everybody is going to like you. Don't let those people's opinions overshadow the opinions of the people who really know and love you.
Love yourself first. Don't expect someone else to do it for you.
Drink because you're happy, not because you're sad.
It's ok not to have an opinion on everything, especially subjects you're not super educated about.
Don't hang on to people or things just because it's comfortable.
It's ok to go to the movies alone.
When you're angry, type out that text and cool off for an hour. Then decide if you really want to send it. Once you say it, you can't take it back.
Never neglect your friendships.
Pizza rolls are ALWAYS better in the oven than the microwave. Good things take time.

What are some lessons that you've learned in the last decade? Share yours in the comments!