"I can't wait to be older. I am going to be a doctor and have a husband by 23 and dogs and some kids. My husband will love me and I will love him and we will be happy like in all the fairytales."

Six year old Brandi was a dreamer. We all were. The life I had in my head was a lot simpler than the reality I am living in. I learned a few things since then.

First, not to wish your life away. You need to live in the now. That does not mean that you don't still have goals for the future, but that you should enjoy the place you're at now. You should work hard to reach your goals, but still acknowledge the people that are around you now. Hang out with the friends that you have now. Make memories. Have fun. Not everyone stays in your life forever.

Second, six year old Brandi had her heart set on being a doctor because she didn't know what all it entailed. Some dreams come and go and that's okay. If one dream gets shut down, find a new one. So maybe being a doctor didn't end up being your thing. I guess I will never get to be Meredith Grey, but that doesn't mean you can't be good at something totally different.

Third, you don't have to be married by the age of 23. It is perfectly fine to wait to get married. Heck, you don't even have to be in a relationship by 23. Everyone has their own timeline. Just because all your friends are getting married and having babies, doesn't mean you need to, too. Things will come in time. Just wait.

Fourth, you can NEVER have too many dogs. Well, you can, I guess, but for now, I am sticking to you can't.

Lastly, life is never a fairytale. Your dreams will get crushed. You won't get everything you want. You'll have to work hard to get what you want. You'll have to pay taxes and figure out how to budget your own money. The six year old you will cringe at all the things it was not prepared for, but it's worth it. Life is worth living.