Dear Younger-Self,
I am here to tell you that everything is going to be ok. I know life seems to be overwhelming and you feel lost, but you won’t always feel this way. Follow these tips and stop wasting your energy on things that don’t matter.
- Mom loves you. She isn’t being MEAN. She wants to protect you and keep you safe. You are her everything. Imagine loving something more than yourself (don’t worry, you won’t really know this feeling until you become a mother in a few years). Just give her a break. I know you think your friends are cool, but these friendships don’t always last.
- Don’t drink so much. Find other activities that bring you joy. Being drunk doesn’t look good on anyone, trust me.
- Try not to be jealous of other people. You are only seeing the surface, and you have no idea what battles they are facing. Every single person has insecurities and are scared of something. Embrace people for their good, and try not to focus so much on the bad.
- Everyone is different (including you) and that is ok! How boring would our world be if we were all the same? Embrace your differences. Embrace other’s differences. You’ll have much more fulfilling relationships when you can learn from someone, rather than just agree on everything.
- Chicks before…you know. Stop hating on girls! Just because you think they are prettier or more popular doesn’t make them BAD. Someone thinks that YOU are prettier and more popular, did you know that? The most incredible relationships in your life will be with other girls. The connection you can share with them will be deeper than any boy you are trying to impress. Learn this now and you will be much, much happier. YOU need those connections to feel full. Trust me.
- Mom is doing way more for you than you know. She is taking care of you. Yes, that means she is thinking about your well-being 100% of the time (before herself). What YOU need to eat, what YOUR schedule is, when YOUR doctor’s appointment’s are, what YOUR future looks like (not her own). Love her. Tell her. Embrace her. Appreciate her. Just tell her you love her, and say, “thank you.” That’s all she wants.
- Don’t feel pressured to do ANYTHING. If your gut is telling you NO, don’t do it. If you lose a friend over it, were they really that good of a friend to begin with? You have to live with your decisions forever, no one else does, so think hard before giving in to anyone.
- Mistakes will happen. It’s part of life. Once they happen, you can’t take them back. So, accept them, grow from them, and move on. Holding on to anger, regret, or sadness only holds you back from whats right in front you of you, and it is probably something pretty amazing.
- Enjoy life!!! Life is beautiful. It is full of adventures, laughs and love. You can choose to embrace life, or to be scared of it. Try to embrace it more, you will be much happier.
- Lead with your heart more. You have a loving, soft heart and that doesn’t make you weak. You love helping others, so do it.
- Build your tribe – you will need this. This can be your family, your friends, your journal – whatever it may be. If you have a connection with someone, feed that connection. You will need your tribe through the hard times. They make the hard times less difficult. We are all in this life together.
- Don’t worry about “not making it in life.” You are a driven, passionate person. Your goals and dreams will change, and you will always find a way to reach them.
At the end of the day, I want you to know that there will be hard times, but there will be many, many more good times. There will be difficult people, but there were will many, many more amazing people. Try to focus on the good, always go with your gut, and try to look at the bright side. Your life is much more enjoyable when you do!
Love,
Your future, much wiser, more confident, self.
