Do you ever wish you could go back in time and slap some truth into your younger self? The older I get, the more I wish it was physically possible to travel back in time and give my 16-year-old self some major advice on life - because heaven knows I desperately needed it.
1. Stop doubting yourself so damn much
I know how hard you struggle with self-doubt. You question every choice you make every day, ranging from what you want for lunch to what college you want to apply to. Stop questioning every decision you make. You made a decision for a reason, and you need to trust your judgment. You know yourself better than anyone in this world. Trust yourself enough to know you're doing what's best for you.
2. Read more
The best stories you could ever imagine are within an arm's reach. Stop watching all that TV and crack open a good book. Seeing a story come to life on the screen is cool - but it's nothing compared to having the story come to life in your head.
3. Save your money
Life is expensive. I know saving money for college is not on your mind right now, but it should be. Do yourself a favor and take 10 percent of your paycheck each week and to deposit into a savings account. Before you know it, you'll have to pay for your own cell phone, car, and apartment. Saving up early is never a bad idea.
4. Spend more time with the family
Before you know it, you will be so busy with life that you'll be lucky if you see the family every two months. Cherish the time you have with them now. Dedicate Sundays to hanging out with them. You can do so many things together, like watch a movie or cook dinner together. It won't be long before you're sitting in your apartment wishing you could drop everything and spend the week with them.
5. Don't stress over school
High school is supposed to be a blast. This is the time you have to spend time with your friends, play sports and have fun. Don't waste your high school years stressing over your grades. It's great that you want to do well, but don't let your desire to do well take over your life.
6. Get outside
The world is such a beautiful place. You should get outside more and enjoy it! I get that there are times where you want to just lay on the couch and watch TV, but in doing so, you miss a day's worth of the world's beauty. Take a walk once a day and embrace the beautiful world you live in. You don't know how many summer nights or autumn days you have left, so get outside and enjoy this world while you can.
7. Be more spontaneous
Not everything in life has to be planned. Don't be afraid to take a chance once in a while. If a friend wants to go on a spontaneous road trip for the weekend, go with them! As cliche as it sounds, you're only young once, so get out in the world while you can.
8. Be more social
I know it's hard to venture outside of your friend group, but don't be afraid of making new friends. I know you're afraid of people judging you, but you need to get over that fear. Have confidence in who you are as a person and start talking to more people. Before you know it, you'll be starting college and not knowing a soul on campus. If you can learn to make new friends now, you'll be golden for the rest of your life.
9. Listen to older music
Do yourself a favor and start listening to older music. The words of Billy Joel, Janis Joplin, and The Beatles will speak to you in ways you never knew possible.
10. Take more pictures
It's hard to think that the life you're living now is not going to be the same life you'll be living in a few years. That being said, take as many pictures as you can now. There is going to be a day where you can't remember being 16, but if you have pictures, you can try to put the pieces together. Take pictures of friends, family, special events and anything else you think is worth remembering. You're living a beautiful life, and you deserve to have something to remember it by.
11. Stop worrying about the future
I know how often you lay awake at night worrying about the future. All that worrying is not going to do anything beneficial for you, so don't worry about the future. It seems like such a scary thing, but the future isn't so bad. You have a great group of friends and a job you absolutely love. The future is going pretty well as of right now, so please stop worrying about it. Just enjoy the life you're living now before it becomes your past.
