You don’t have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring!

– Lumiere, Beauty & the Beast

Over the next few blogs, I will be going down the list on Frances Bridges article called “10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 20“. There are way more than 10 things I wish I knew when I was twenty, but we will start with this list! So, lets get rolling with our first point: Your Expectations Are the Only Ones You Need To Meet!

Life Before Age 18

Before you turn 18, your life is your parents. They raise you. They teach you right from wrong. It is their responsibility to keep you alive, safe, and educated. They are our role models! But they set expectations. They expect you to be better than they were.

My mom was strict and not strict! I was allowed a lot of freedom because I met her expectations. I did good in school, I respected my elders, and I made sure my chores were done on time. My job as a child was to meet her expectations. I failed from time to time, but I learned.

Life After Age 18

Then you turn 18 and suddenly you are in charge of your life, safety, and education. Your parents still have expectations for you, society dumps more expectations on you, and you find yourself overwhelmed and doubtful. Expectations can range from going to college after high school to having kids after your married.

I went against society rules. I took a year off college. I didn’t take time off to travel or accept an unpaid internship. I took time off because I needed a break from other’s expectations. I needed to figure out my own expectations. What did I want for my life and what was I willing to do to get there?

Finding Yourself

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It takes time to realize, but you are the most important person in your life. It might take distance from others and it might require years, but you will get it eventually. When you do, set expectations for yourself. Start off with just a couple but stick to them. No one else’s expectations matter! I will say it again, you are the most important person in your life.