Dear the 16 year old version of myself,
First off, I'd like to tell you to things did not at ALL turn out like you planned, but try not to panic, I promise I'll fill you in later.
1. Stop trying to fit in so much and find friends you aren't scared to leave your music on shuffle around.
Newsflash, if they judge you that hard for what kind of songs you like, they're probably not the kind of people you'll want to hang out with during the most difficult times in your life.
2. When your family asks you to spend time with them, suck it up, cancel on your friends, and do it.
I know you get annoyed when they get all dramatic and start monologuing about how they won't be around forever, but the truth is they're right and now I'm a little mad at you for not taking them more seriously.
3. Don't be so hard on Mom.
I know you think she doesn't get you and there's no way she understands what's going on, but you have a lot more in common than you think and you're going to need her quite a bit latter on.
4. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND HOLY PUT THE BLUE EYE LINER DOWN.
Walk away. Never look back.
5. Stop giving pieces of your heart away to the first boy who calls you beautiful.
It's okay to care for people, but not at the cost of yourself. Never forget that.
6. That being said, you are beautiful.
You are perfect. You do not need to change a single hair on your curly crazy head. Stop waking up believing you aren't good enough. You are so enough it is unbelievable.
7. Stop listening to people who keep telling you that you need to be "practical" about your future.
They're the one's who want you to take less chances so that they can keep you in the same dull cage as themselves. Dream and work until you achieve everything you want.
8. Never stop making time for your friends from home.
Pretty soon you guys will become a family and during the hardest day of your life, they'll be the ones who keep you standing tall and keep your chin up when you're not strong enough to.
9. When someone acts like they don't care about you and continues to do things that they know hurt you, they don't have some hidden motive.
It really is as simple as this: they don't care about you. You can't change them. It's going to be hard, but let them go.
10. It's okay to fall in love and even though your heart is going to break approximately one million times, never stop falling in love.
Everyone will tell you it's impossible to know what love is at this age, but the truth is, love is relative and changes every single day. Fall in love with your friendships, fall in love with your life, fall in love with who you are and who you're becoming, fall in love with someone else and fall out of love with them. Don't be scared to keep falling, it teaches you who you can depend on and who you can't. When your heart breaks, lean on those you know will be there, they'll help you put the pieces back together.
Just because I love you, I decided to add a bonus piece of advice:
11. Listen.
Listen to the people around you, listen to music, listen to your heart, and listen to people who aren't afraid to tell you when you're wrong. Just, listen.
With all of my heart,
Future you.
