There are a lot of things I wish I knew before I was a teenager, dealing with all the angst, the drama, and the issues any teenager has to face day in and day out- here are a few things I wish I knew before I was 13.
It's okay to just be 13. Don't worry about being a grownup until you absolutely have to. By then, trust me, you'll wish you were still an awkward teen rather than a working, driving, adult.
Sleep. I know you justify yourself for staying up every day by saying "you'll sleep when you're dead". While this might be true, you need more sleep babe. You are way too cranky a person to try and last on a couple hours of sleep. Don't wait unit mom yells at you to go upstairs, just take it upon yourself and get into bed a little earlier once in a while. That way, when you can't sleep in when you're in college, your body will be ready for bed nice and early.
Everyone's insecure, they're just hiding it. Don't compare yourself to everyone else, you're wasting your time trying to be better than the people you've grown up with. Odds are, they're jealous of you too for some reason or another. Don't sweat it if your hair isn't perfectly straight, and don't feel guilty if you want that extra scoop of ice cream once in a while- live a little.
Life only gets better if you let it. If you stress yourself out, you won't give yourself time to smell the roses. Life will only get better if you let go and let whatever's supposed to happen, happen. The longer you're stuck on being invited to the latest parties, the less time you have to just be a kid and enjoy yourself.
Mistakes happen. If you beat yourself up over the mistakes you make, you'll only end up making more. Simple as that. Move on.
Boys suck, and always will. Don't get hung up on them. More often than not, they don't care about their first kiss or yours, so don't get worked up. A boy you went on a date with when you're 13, will only be a joke when you're 20. You'll find the one, eventually. But keep in mind you need to make the mistakes to get to the good stuff.
Don't hold back. When you know what's right, don't be afraid of people stepping all over you, stand up for yourself. You know what's right, and if someone doesn't, don't sit back and pretend you don't know what's right from wrong. You're blessed to be a smart girl, don't be afraid of your capabilities.
All good things must come to an end. Everything does, whether you want it to or not. Whether it's the best night of your life or a friendship/relationship that you wish would never end, let it be. Good things come to those who wait. When one door clothes another opens, whether you want it to or not. Be ready for roller coaster ride, kid. You're gonna make it.