Hey, you. I know you’re going through a lot right now, but I’d like to let you know that everything will be OK.

Your braces will come off. And your eyebrows that you plucked away, those will grow back.

You will learn to accept your body—weight, height and size. You will learn to love all of it.

You will learn that your grades don’t define you. That test that you bombed or that project that you got an F on; those won’t matter because you won’t remember them five years from now.

You will learn that losing people is a part of life. Whether they pass away, leave or you just simply grow apart. It’s OK and you are allowed to feel sad.

You will learn that you can’t control everything. You will learn to accept the things you cannot change, but you will try hard as hell to make things better for yourself.

You will learn that your parents tried their best. They weren’t given a “How To” manual on how to be a mom and dad. They fumbled through adulthood just like you will. Don’t be so hard on them.

You will learn that you can’t always help people. Sometimes all you can do is be there for them and sometimes, and that will be enough.

You will learn to be patient. You will realize that you are not the only person in line and you are not the only person that matters.

You will learn that things won’t make you happy—people will. You’ll spend money on experiences instead of material items. You will have a collection of wonderful memories that is worth way more than a closet full of clothes and shoes.

You will learn that when your friends don’t put as much effort into the friendship as you do, it doesn’t mean they don’t care. Don’t get angry. You never know what people are going through.

You will learn that family strife will cause your heart to ache. This is because you love them and you care about them deeply.

You will learn to let go of your anger. You will take a deep breath, and let it out. You will finally forgive those who have wronged you and move on.

You will learn to laugh at yourself. This will make life a lot more enjoyable.

You will learn that honesty is the best policy. It is always better to be genuine and true to yourself.

You will learn that it is OK to cry. You are allowed to express emotion and feel sad. Your tears will help you process your grief.

You will learn that it is OK to be alone. You’ll learn that solitude will allow you to unwind and discover yourself. It will let your creativity flourish.

You will learn to step out of your comfort zone. This will be very important for your personal growth and will lead you to many opportunities.

You will learn to appreciate what you have. You won’t feel the need to keep up with those around you and you will learn that status is not as important as character.

You are malleable. You are clay. You can transform yourself into something incredible. You will grow. You will experience pain. You will experience loss. You will experience defeat.

But you will also experience love. You will experience blessings. You will experience triumph.

You may be struggling now and you will continue to face strife. But I am letting you know that that’s OK and is part of this crazy thing we call life.