Ten Things I Learned Through Being a Camp Counselor

1. You’ll never regret having too much time with someone.
Life is short. Death comes out of nowhere sometimes. You will never regret having too much time with the people you love. Take the extra moments to tell people you love them, and put others before yourself. The relationships we have with people are much more important than any paycheck.

2. Ask for help when you need it.
Don’t try and do everything by yourself always. The people who love you want you to succeed, and will usually do everything in their power to make sure you do. If you don’t understand something, ask! 9 times out of 10, bosses and peers would much rather you ask a question instead of having you do it wrong

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3. The people who are hardest to love usually need it the most.

The most difficult people are usually the ones who need love and grace the most. Give them a little extra. It’s hard- especially when every bone in your body is telling you to punch them straight in the mouth. But give them some grace. They’re generally difficult for a reason, so set an example to everyone around. There will ALWAYS be difficult people to deal with in every stage of life, you might as well get into the habit of not wanting to sucker punch every idiot who is consistently rude/defiant/gossipy/loud/twofaced/lying/awful.

4. You get what you give.
You only get out of life what you put in. Live actively and you’ll receive actively. Throw yourself at every opportunity, be a little silly, give more than what you think you can. We’re stronger and have more than what we actually think, and to live a good life you’ve got to say “whatever, suckas” and do everything to the fullest. If that means swimming the mighty Tippecanoe river with a glorified pool noodle on your precious night off just to say you did it or skydiving/hangliding when you’re terrified of heights or even just throwing yourself into your work a little more, you get out of life what you give it. Give it good things and you’ll get good things back.

5. Be Third.
God is first, others are second, and I am third. I heard this motto all day, every day for the entirety of my summer and it’s such a good road map to living life. So dial it up to G-O-D, put your friends, family, and enemies before yourself, and don’t be selfish. Even if Jesus isn’t your thing, putting others before yourself is just a good general rule. People like being put first and it feels good to do it. #Jesushasyourback #JesustheOG

6. Friendship is all-important.
Be a good friend. Be a rock for the people around you and you’ll get amazing friendships out of it. Life is so much more fun if you have a good friend or two by your side to experience it with. Include everyone, don’t judge a book by it’s cover, and be open to new friendships. Those friendships will carry you through the roughest times and can help keep a smile on your face.

7. Stand up for yourself.
Sometimes, your only friend is yourself. Don’t let others walk all over you. Choose your battles but sometimes you’ll be the only one to fight them for yourself. You set your own standard for how people treat you so stick to it. Surround yourself with good people and give the respect you expect to receive.

8. Make every day special.
You set the tone for your day. If you wake up with the mindset of “this day sucks. I hate life and life hates me” that’s the day you’re going to have. Add some spice to your day and make it a day worth living. Sometimes you just have to chug a Red Bull, throw on a plastic tiara and call it Tiara Tuesday to make your day a little better. Sing for no reason, dance a little. Make every day the BEST DAY EVER.

9. Do what you love and you won’t work a day in your life.
Do what makes you happy. Find what that is, and center your life around it. You won’t work a single day if you’re doing what makes you the happiest. Again, surround yourself with good and you’ll get good out. We only have one life, make it worth it. #YOLO

10. Go out of your comfort zone.
If you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’re going to keep getting what you’ve gotten. Do something new, try a new skill, fail miserably and try again. Jump off the high dive when you’re afraid of going underwater, sing in front of a couple hundred people when you have stage fright, and trust others when you’re afraid.