As I turn nineteen, I've been reflecting a lot on my life thus far and about how much I have grown. I know so much more about myself, the people around me, and the world now, and sometimes I wish I could go back in time to tell myself what I know now. In honor of my nineteenth birthday, I've come up with nineteen things I wish I could tell younger me, and although I can't do that, I'm glad that I know these things now.
1. That voice of yours? Use it. Those thoughts in your head? Share them. Stop sitting back and waiting for someone to call on you or ask you. Speak up.
2. Don't blame yourself for things other people did to you. It's not your fault. You didn't ask for it. You didn't deserve it.
3. Don't forget to love yourself. There is so much to love about you.
4. You really, really like tea. You should start drinking it sooner.
5. Be proud. The closet is safe and it's warm, but life is so much more beautiful outside of it.
6. Your real friends will love you for the real you. Don't hide who you are or pretend to be something you're not to get approval. Anyone who can't accept you for who you are doesn't deserve to be in your life.
7. You also really like country music. Start listening to it sooner. You're missing out.
8. Don't stop reading and writing. They both mean way too much for you to stop. Remember what they mean to you. Find the time for them.
9. Stop doing things you don't enjoy. It doesn't matter how good it'll look on an application or to other people. Life's too short to waste it on things that make you unhappy.
10. Let your hair down (literally and figuratively). Not everything has to be so serious. Be goofy and weird and spontaneous and sing at the top of your lungs. Also, don't hate your curls. They're weird during puberty, but they end up being super cute.
11. The people who left you did it for a reason. Stop wishing for them to come back or wondering what you did to deserve it. Not everyone is meant to stay in your life. Keep moving forward.
12. Stop worrying about disappointing others. Make yourself proud. That's all that matters.
13. You can't help everyone and you can't fix everything. Stop expecting yourself to be able to. The weight of the whole world doesn't have to be on your shoulders.
14. Stop rushing through life. Take a minute and breathe. Stop and smell the roses. The adventure isn't just about the destination but also the journey. Just focus on today. Tomorrow will come, but today is ending. Focus on it. Enjoy it. Live in it. Today is the tomorrow you were thinking about yesterday. Don't let it go to waste.
15. Don't fight for people to love you who you know never will. Stop accepting the love you think you deserve and start accepting the love you actually do deserve.
16. He was right when he said you didn't deserve him. You deserve so much better.
17. Believe people when they say you can do something. You will do amazing things that are beyond your wildest dreams. You are capable of so much, so let people believe in you and believe in yourself.
18. Your parents and brothers are your best friends. They understand you like nobody else does. They support you no matter what. They love you more than anyone and always will.
19. Everything is going to be okay. It may not seem like it now, but I promise you that you will be okay. Things may be rough now, but you will make it through it all. You will be stronger because of it. You may never be happy that it happened, but you will be a better person because of it.
