At the peak of being grown all on your own,

there is no sense in the moan,

cause hey, you are almost grown.

Take life as it is, know that it's a hustle.

Work to build the best you, don't stop the bustle.

Listen to your elders and learn how to survive.

Stay away from street hustlers if you want to stay alive.

Start your new job with excitement and energy.

Companies will notice your genius epiphany.

Respect all that helped you succeed.

Grind for your own, you will never be in need.

At the peak of being grown,

and it's the end of the day.

You can pat yourself on the back.

Because you have paved your way.

@Luthien Happy Birthday:)

Get a good friend to create a plan with you to spend a day the week before your birthday to scatter some kindness.

Pick up a few inexpensive goodies at a grocery store. Maybe some fruit snacks or cookies. Drop them off at your local food shelf or a shelter. Then go somewhere for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, and buy one for an unsuspecting person. If you happen to see a homeless person along the way, give them a dollar from each of you.

There's probably a nonprofit organization in your area that could use a couple hours of help from willing teens. Might be raking leaves, serving dinner, or just talking to an elderly person who has no visitors.

When it's your birthday, you can look back at what you did and enjoy the good feeling. It will also be like giving a gift to your friend who gets to experience this day with you.

Many years down the road when someone asks what you did for your 18th birthday, this just might be what you remember.

There is a lot of advice out there….and here is mine, take it with a grain of salt as you wish:

1. Be kind… don’t burn bridges or people, you may not know now what you could be needing later.

2. Be Humble …. realized you are early in life with much to learn,

3. Go on the Adventure and be ok with making mistakes, they are mistakes and you can bounce back.

4. Choose A job or career you love… and work your butt off, support yourself, no one owes you anything!

5. Have fun, enjoy life….but remember You are responsible for YOU. Actions have consequences.

Most of all I would share, don’t take yourself or life too seriously. Laugh as much as you can, be quick to forgive and slow to anger, and treat people you love and care about as the gifts they are.

Happy Birthday and good luck on this new adventure in life.

you don’t have to be interesting

you don’t have to go to a prestigious college to be worthy

(and when you drop out spectacularly it doesn’t define you)

because it doesn’t work that way

you have a voice

use it

you have so much time to prove yourself

(but not to anyone else)

you have years ahead of you to achieve your dreams

if you don’t have dreams yet, keep living

you don’t need all the answers

because you don’t have all the answers

you do you, boo

Advice?

Hmmm ... let’s start with relish the years you have lived. This would mean taking into account both the good and bad that has happened for they brought you to this moment.

And when you hit 18, live that year for all you are worth and then some for soon you will be on the brink of entering year 19, the last teen year of your life.

One day (and trust me when I say they move faster than you would believe), you will look back on times like now, wondering, speculating on what you could have done differently. The truth is there would be nothing for we all do what we do at the moment. Sometimes with thought, other times simply by being rash and impulsive. One could say it’s the nature of the beast.

But set your goals, reachable goals. Plan for the future even if only a day at a time. There is but one you, and right or wrong, you decide the path you walk.

... and with that, I leave you this.

https://voicespice.com/Player.aspx?c=p&h=71E3E72&j=2D4661

First of all, happy birthday! In my country, 18 years old means we graduate from high school and ready to face the world (university, work, or... marriage, yes).

If I were able to talk to my 18 year-old self, I would give the same advice to you what I give to her:

1. It's okay if you haven't figured out your dream(s). Some people need more time and more experience to figure something out what they want to do in their life. You're not the only one, dear!

2. Maybe you are trying to date for the first time. Honey, if you do want to date, listen to your instincts. I hope you only meet good people in your life--but if you do meet bad person, please get away as soon as possible.

3. Just because you're now legal to do some stuffs, doesn't mean that you have to do it. Some things just don't suit you, and you don't need everyone's approval if you don't want to do it.

4. You're amazing and will do more amazing things in the future! Try to believe in yourself more!

5. Don't forget to give yourself a me-time! It's important to keep you content and sane; it works for me.

6. If some people told you your hobbies are childish, don't listen to them. It's your hobbies and you feel happiness from it. Again, you don't need people's approval for your own happiness.

7. In case it isn't clear, you can't please everyone.

I hope you have a happy year ahead!

Don't make choices you'll regret.

Make sure you've saved money.

Don't act all high and mighty over minors just because you can legally go to jail now.

Remember, don't do stupid crap, because if you get caught, you'll have actual consequences.

Don't get too caught up in life; remember to breathe, and appreciate the little things. it'll do wonders for you mental health.

Take my advice with a grain of salt- I'm not even eighteen myself.

The world is a big place.

Don't loose yourself in it.

Explore, but don't wander aimlessly.

Keep your options open, but don't loose focus of what you want in life.

Enjoy the moment, but keep the future in mind.

Try new things, but don't be so quick to dismiss things from your past.

It's your life.

Yours.

So live it like you own it.

Happy Birthday!

The past has happened and cannot be changed. Too many people get stuck in the past, worrying about what they did or didn't do, what they should have done or not done. So many regrets. Don't be like them!

The future hasn't happened yet - you can make it whatever you want it to be. So many people live in the future, 'As soon as I get that degree/job/girlfriend/ etc, then I will be happy." No, you won't. Don't be like them!

The only reality is now. This is happening, this is the present. It is a present from God.

Enjoy the moment, it will never come back again.