Even though let's be honest, someone should probably be giving me life advice, I'll do my best.

1. You are not fat.
2. Even if you were, all body shapes and sizes are beautiful, and it’s certainly not worth the amount of time you spend thinking about it.
3. You are also not ugly. You’re gorgeous now, and in the next few years you’ll grow into yourself even further and look exactly how you’d like to.
4. Spend more time on your schoolwork, and actually learn the material instead of just trying for a grade. Getting A’s is important, but when you get to college they expect you to remember the information you learned in high school. If you just memorize it all and forget it the next day, you’ll have a lot of catching up to do.
5. Spend time with your family. Someday you won’t live with them anymore, and as annoying as they may seem right now, you will miss them like crazy.
6. The adults in your life genuinely only want what’s best for you. Your parents, coaches, and teachers spend way more time thinking about you than you could ever imagine, and care about you more than you can comprehend. Although this one can be tough too, try to listen to them and be kind, even when you don't understand why they're so protective.
7. Someday you’ll have to eat ridiculously healthy and care about keeping your weight in check for health reasons, so please eat that cupcake now, while your metabolism is crazy fast.
8. On the flip side, make sure you eat somewhat healthy and take care of your body. The habits you form now will be there for your whole life, so make sure to create ones you’re proud of.
9. Drugs and alcohol are just nowhere near as cool as they sound. Actually, they’re just really, really stupid. There’s nothing fun or attractive about someone who’s lazy or can’t hold a rational conversation. There’s plenty of time to drink when you’re of age, and high school isn’t the time for killing brain cells. Friends that are there to party with you aren't real friends, they just want to get drunk. Spend your time with friends who want to go bowling or take trips downtown or have movie marathons, and you'll actually be friends for life.
10. If there’s someone in your life who brings more drama and stress than happiness, they really aren’t worth it. Once you graduate you won’t care about 95% of the people you once knew anyway, so if they aren’t adding purpose to your life now, they probably won’t be later. Even though it may hurt, let them go.
11. Your teammates are literally more important than anyone else.
12. Work hard at practice, gymnastics doesn’t come easy but it’s worth it in the long run. When you’re done and looking back, you’ll want to know that you did all you could and never gave up.
13. Follow your passions, don’t worry about what’s going to make money or have you look smart for a future major or career choice. Money can’t buy happiness, so go with what you love. You'll work ten times harder at what you care about, anyway.
14. There is not a single boy in the world that I’ll ever think is worthy of you, and that will never change. In my mind you are perfect. So do me a favor and only give your time to boys who treat you right and make you feel emotions you’ve never felt before. There is a whole lifetime left to settle, and right now you have so many options - too many to waste your choice on someone who isn’t perfect.
15. Don’t spend so much time on your phone. There’s a whole world out there, one that needs your spark and personality.
16. Think for yourself, don’t let anyone tell you what your opinions should be. Even if what you believe isn’t the same as your family, friends, or the media, that’s okay.
17. I love you more than you could ever know, and will always be here if you need me. Happy Birthday, my little sisters.