Being a teenager is hard. I certainly fell into a lot of traps that I wish more than anything I had avoided. The older I get, the more words of wisdom I come across that I really wish I had seen when I was struggling the most. Sometimes the best messages come in 140 characters or less.
1. Don't attach your identity to your sadness
my advice for sad teens: do everything u can to avoid making sadness ur aesthetic!! if u attach too much of ur ide… https://t.co/TarLlhOs5x— Blythe Baird 🎀 (@Blythe Baird 🎀) 1539137347.0
It can be really hard when the emptiness is seemingly all you know and so easy to cling to. But damn, it's so true.
2. Don't buy into the patriarchy's shaming and selling of our sexuality
Girls are still shaming other girls for masturbation.. like grow up and buy a vibrator Sarah it’s 2018— cat (@cat) 1520198145.0
Come on, Sarah.
3. Do feel. Above all else, feel
Feeling so deeply can be a terrible burden and a beautiful gift. And so much of the world will try to shame you for this. Do not listen.
4. Do take a minute to appreciate your inherent strength as a woman
Women amaze me ur bodies r so intelligent like how do people find periods gross did you do GCSE biology that shit i… https://t.co/6ZexEhCNSd— Louis R Michael (@Louis R Michael) 1510770533.0
How dare we let the world tell us our resilience is unpalatable? Our resilience is our trademark as women and we deserve to be proud.
5. Don't set yourself on fire to keep others warm
For those of us that are fixers and fight that righting reflex daily, this one is for you.
6. Don't hold yourself responsible for the dysfunction of others
Women are not rehablitation centres for badly raised boys— Zahra Zaraa Danejo (@Zahra Zaraa Danejo) 1519305186.0
Say it louder for the people in the back and all those who forget.
7. Do remember everything is temporary
Even the worst days only have 24 hours. Take it 24 hours at a time.
8. Do love yourself enough to be alone
i’ve become way too comfortable w/ hanging out by myself lately that i’m basically SCREWED. u want to go out to eat… https://t.co/SAf8UlsVR0— Katherine Raleigh (@Katherine Raleigh) 1537145936.0
There is so much strength and empowerment that comes from being able to be alone.
9. Don't neglect your mental health
You can go to the gym, drink your water, and take your vitamins, but if you don’t deal with the shit going on in yo… https://t.co/y54IlNri20— harm (@harm) 1534308707.0
Do not neglect your mental health. Trying to fix internal problems with external solutions is exhausting and ineffective.
10. Don't hold yourself back from what makes you feel powerful
Idk who needed this, but bitch pierce your nipples.— milfshake🥤 (@milfshake🥤) 1540567446.0
Hey, I needed this.
11. Do remember why you started
Gnight from us, your future work, your 5-year plans and your wildest dreams, your final drafts and opening nights.… https://t.co/awzyUG20IK— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin-Manuel Miranda) 1541645994.0
Always be working on something, even if it's just yourself.
12. Don't shrink yourself for the comfort of others. Especially for the comfort of men
Everyone wants a strong woman until she actually stands up, flexes her muscles, & projects her voice. Suddenly she… https://t.co/Eh5YX9x2qk— ʋиκσиғιиɛ∂ (@ʋиκσиғιиɛ∂) 1542126035.0
Be more than an idea. Be too much.
13. Do fail
It sucks when it first happens, baby girl, but it's all either a blessing or a lesson.