7 Things You Still Have Time To Learn

1. How to write a check

Okay so I still don’t know how to do this. I always have to look it up online and even then I mess it up. Why isn’t there a class in high school where they teach you this? It’s embarrassing to have an employer ask for a void check and for you to be like, “….uh?” And not know how to do that. Or to go to pay for medications and have the pharmacist ask if you need some help with where your signature goes. It’s just something it seems like everyone knows. That does not look good, and you look super incompetent. But don’t worry. There’s still time to learn it. I’m sure some full-fledged adults still need to look this up.

2. Another language

This will be so worth your time. The whole world opens up when you know another language. You can learn so much about people unlike yourself, and different cultures. It’s really a great skill to have. Learning another language expands your mind and it’s a good brain exercise. It won’t be easy, because after a certain age, learning a secondary language is super hard. But it’s really, really worth it and a great thing to do to better yourself. It’s not too late! Pick up Rosetta Stone and do it.

3. Not to let a stranger ruin your day

It’s really easy to let some creeper on the subway or some jerk on the internet ruin your whole day. People can get under your skin, no matter how thick it is. But you have to learn that these people don’t know you. They don’t know your life. They’re strangers and they’re judging you or treating you terribly because they are terrible. It has nothing to do with you. You shouldn’t take those things personally. They’re not about you. If you can let them roll off your shoulders and move on with your day, you’ll be less stressed out and burdened by needless BS. Take a breath and let it go.

4. How to dress yourself

I’m still horrible at this but it has a lot to do with how cheap my clothing is, though I have seen people shopping at the same stores I do with much better senses of style. I guess I just don’t know how to work with what I have or how to collect certain timeless, universal pieces. I’m getting better at it by spending money on clothing less likely to fall apart, and by looking in magazines or on mannequins for inspiration. Your style isn’t set in stone. Don’t despair. You are able to start dressing however you’d dream of dressing, experiment with your personal look, and don’t be afraid to take chances. Otherwise how will you know what you like to wear?

5. To swim/ride a bike

If you don’t know how to swim or ride a bike, don’t worry! Plenty of people never learned how to do those things. You should try and learn though because biking and swimming are healthy and fun. Don’t be embarrassed. Embrace it. Have a friend teach you. Take a class. It’ll be a cool thing, instead of something you worry about when your friends want to go camping by a lake or when a nice guy asks you on a bike ride across the bridge on a date. It’s not your fault you never learned. Some people don’t have conventional childhoods, some people don’t live near water — whatever, there’s tons of reasons you wouldn’t know how to do these typical things. Don’t push them aside because you’re a “grown up.” Go out and learn!

6. How to value yourself in relationships

This is tough one. You might think you’re stuck in some kind of spiral-y pattern where everyone you date treats you terribly. Please don’t think this is true for forever. As they say in ‘The Perks Of Being A Wallflower,'”We accept the love we think we deserve.” By valuing yourself, you can recognize the red flags that marked doom in previous relationships and stop letting yourself go there. You just have to be extra conscious of how well someone is treating you and if they make you feel badly about yourself. Don’t resign yourself to relationships that are beneath you. You still have time to grow.

7. What you want out of life

It’s never too late! My dad is 66 years old and he just went back to school to get a psychology degree. You can change paths at any time. Don’t think you’re too old or don’t have enough time to do the things you really want to do. Time is a societal construct! You can start as soon as you start! You have to at least try, right? You still have tons of time to learn about yourself and what your dreams really are. Don’t give up because of age! If you don’t know right this second what you want to do with your life, that is okay. You’ll figure it out. You have plenty of time.