Dear 16-year-old me,
I have a secret to tell you -- everything works out.
Your life right now is being lived in a suburban high school bubble with little to no influence from the outside world, but it doesn't feel that way to you, does it? Every event seems so major, and it's hard for you to believe that all you have experienced is the tiniest little sliver of the world. There's so much I want to tell you, but I'm going to try to keep it to the top five things I wish someone would have clued me in on at the ripe young age of 16.
1. Stop worrying so much.
I promise one test will not make or break your existence. The things that seem so important to you right now, so absolutely crucial to your entire life, will not matter in five years. You'll learn that most of the worries that keep you up at night will have no real impact on your life, but it wont stop you from losing sleep. Once you start learning to let go of the things that are beyond your control, you will be so much happier.
2. When in doubt, your mom is right.
I know, I know, she doesn't understand you, you're much more mature than she was at your age, times have changed, blah blah blah... Just trust me. She's almost always right. As you go through life, you'll understand so much why she's doing the things she is doing now. She is someone who always has your best interest at heart and truly wants your happiness over everything else. As you get older, you'll realize how rare this is, and appreciate her so much more.
3. Don't rush growing up.
It's temping at this age to want to rush your life away and be independent and "mature." Please don't. Being naive is one of the most beautiful things in the world, and once you lose it, you can't get it back. There is so much to be said for being young and carefree and not aware of the sad and sometimes unfair truths of adulthood. Cherish those Friday nights at the movie theater with your friends, and don't try and speed everything up. Eventually adulthood will hit, and I promise it's not as magical and glamorous as you think it will be. Honestly, its basically just cleaning, sending emails and paying for things.
4. Start saving money now. Seriously.
Save the money you have now so you don't have to be super broke in college. I promise, if you skip out on a couple of the Hollister T-shirts that you will literally never wear again, you'll have the money to spend it on things that actually matter later in life. Like mexican food. (Joking. Kind of.)
5. Let go of the idea that you have to change something about yourself to be happy.
It sounds simple, but it's something to remember. Throughout your life, you may get lulled into thinking that you will only be happy if you change things about yourself. Whether its losing weight, dying your hair, or being in a relationship -- it wont equal happiness. It sounds cliché, but the only way to be happy is to love yourself the way you are, and understand that you are enough just as you are. It's a beautiful realization that will ultimately change your life.
That's all I have for now, 16 year-old me. Now go forth and be angst-y. It comes with the territory of being 16, so enjoy it while it lasts. Also, please don't get side bangs, because you'll regret it. Okay, that's all.
With love,
A slightly more mature version of yourself
