21 Things I’ve Realized At 21

Chanced upon a Thought Catalogue article about 21 Things I’ve Realized At 21, and I could relate to some of her points. I also realised that I'm turning 22 in exactly a month, what better time for a cheesy reflection right? So here's my 21 things.

1. Travel. Travel a lot. This year I've travelled to 22 cities in 11 countries. I'm very thankful and blessed to have those opportunities. It doesn't have to be long trips to the other side of the world, most of mine are spontaneous weekend trips. Although I did take a couple of long trips. Make full use of your summer break, find opportunities to do summer school, volunteer or backpack abroad. You don't need a lot of money to travel, start small, then go further if you have the means. 
2. Count your blessings, every single day. If you are 21, you are officially an adult. So stop taking things for granted, because life don't owe you anything. At the end of each day, you can chose to be thankful for all the good things that happened or blame the world for your ill luck that day. I urge you to chose the former, not only does it makes you happy, be thankful to other people make them happy too. 
3. If something makes you happy then just do it. If you like shopping, then shop till you drop. If you like spending hours surfing the net, just do it. If you are like me, if you prefer staying in on a Friday night watching rom coms, do it by all means. If it doesn't hurt anyone and it makes you happy, then why not? 
4. Call your parents regularly. If you are like me living abroad, or even living in another city, you should make it a habit to phone your folks once a week. Check in on them, see how they are doing, update them about your life, share some interesting stories. It doesn't have to be an hour long conversation, 15 mins will do, just to let them know you are doing fine. It doesn't matter how old you get, you will always be kids to them and they will always worry. 
5. Stop worrying about what other people think of you. You can't live everyday worrying about what other people think. Isn't it tiring to live life just to please others or not be judged? I spent the first year of university conforming to everyone else's standards and I was miserable. Do the things you like, wear the clothes you like, because that's all that matters. 
6. There's nothing wrong with crying. I cried more times these this year than in my entire life. I cried about guys, I cried about exams, I cried about being homesick, I even cried about life. And I realise it's okay to cry. It's not weak, it's human nature. Don't keep feelings bottled up inside, let it all out, I promise you that you will feel better after that. 
7. Quit analysing messages. Never ever ever over analyse messages, especially not messages from guys. Most of the time they just mean what it's written. Don't ask your girlfriends, don't ask other guys, don't ask Google. Because it will drive you crazy. 
8. Don't be afraid to say goodbye. I learnt this the hard way. Be it breakups, graduations, farewells, or anything, don't be afraid of goodbyes. They say endings are the start of a new beginning. Sometimes distance make the heart grow fonder, and I testify that. People who love you will always love you doesn't matter where you are. 
9. Study hard. Way to many people deem studying to be uncool, often associated with nerds and geeks. I find witty people very attractive, in fact there's nothing more attractive to me, than intelligence and personality. I don't mean to say study your ass off and disregard all your social life. Study smart and play hard. For most people university is the last official education before entering the workforce, so why not make the best out of it? Ignore the social rules, stereotypes, and be the smart and intelligent person you are. 
10. If if feels right then just go with it. If you like a guy and he likes you too then go for it. If you have the opportunities to study abroad, go study. If you feel like taking a particular module then take it. Don't be afraid just because it's foreign, it may be the best thing that's ever happend to you. Because life's too short to live with what ifs. 

I decided to stop at 10 because 21 is way too many. Go read the article if you want more points. I guess these are my top 10 takeaways from this year of being 21. I learnt so much more than this, because it would take pages to pen them all down. I want to say it's my favourite year so far but I know there's much more to come in the future. 15 days more to my favourite month of the year, I can hardly wait.

Conversations

Chanced upon this quote while browsing through Tumblr, and I feel like I've met my soul mate. These are my exact thoughts, strung into proper sentences. People ask me what I look for in a guy, I say " Someone who can hold a conversation, intellectual conversation. " and they tell me to look for someone who's got the brains to talk nerdy. I don't actually mean talking about mathematical equations or macroeconomics, I mean talks about life, love, anything and everything.

This is the reason why I especially like hanging out with people one on one, I like getting to know people through their thought, fears, words. I like listening to people share their views on things, be it world issues, matters of the heart or everyday lives. I like talking without fears or boundaries. I like conversations that doesn't only revolve around the latest fashion, or gossip or technology. Perhaps I chose psych over soci for a reason, individuals over groups.

I am pretty lucky to have friends whom share this common quirk as me, and it's always a pleasure to talk to them, for hours and hours. I am lucky enough to have met new friends who delight me in intellectual conversations. For that, I am eternally grateful.

Sweater Weather

It's already November and in less than 50 days, it will be 2015. I feel like time's moving way too fast and I'm in a constant chase, always a little behind. I haven't fully internalized the fact that this is already my Junior year, my third winter in Beijing. But last winter didn't seem that long ago, it's been a year already. Woah.

That aside, my favourite season is finally here. Sweater weather. Trenchcoats, boots, scarfs, coloured leaves, pumpkin spice latte, things I so adore. Despite the cold, I still love talking long walks around the campus. The falling leaves and crisp cold air charms me in the most peculiar way. Sadly fall in Beijing is almost always non-existent, it goes as fast as it comes. I look forward to capturing more pictures of these pretty leaves before the trees go bare.

I'm tired. October went by in a flash. October saw the start of my internship, the start of concert preparation and a very dreadful farewell. I guess work and extra curricular involvements came in handy in filling the emptiness inside my heart. In fact I was almost too busy to remember something's missing. Have a better Halloween was on my bucket list this year but it failed due to the same reason as last year. Ah bucket list, that will be for another post. I wanted to start November on a fresh page, but instead I lounged around at home the entire day cleaning, watching movies and sleeping, because I was just so exhausted. At least I got tiredness out of the way! November's gonna get even more hectic, but that's fine because Dubai's waiting for me at the end of the month. I can hardly wait!

To Kill a Mockingbird

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. - TKAMB

Re-watched one of my all time favourite movies. I remember first reading the novel during secondary school. I feel in love with this book there and then. Gregory Peck's did a perfect portrayal of Atticus or rather, it's one of those movies that differ little from the original novel.

Unlike the rom coms I like to watch over and over again on lazy Sundays, this is one of the movies I watch to keep myself in perspective. It's also one of those intellectual movies I watch to stimulate my brain cells when I feel like my brain's not working anymore. Weird as it sounds, it works.