There are so many things I wish I could just scream right into the face of my younger self. So many things I wish I knew back then, so many things that could have prevented much of the heartbreak I’ve felt in my life. People always say “Sometimes we need to learn things the hard way,” but why? If you could spare yourself from some of the sadness the world hands us all, wouldn’t you? So here’s to my younger, much more naive self:
Exert your efforts into the things that won’t leave you the next day.
Find what matters and spend your life surrounding yourself with those things. Your family will become a key important feature to your life, even if you can’t see it now, so make sure to spend time with them as often as possible. School is so much more important than you think it is. Your education and talents are things only you have access to. They’ll never just up and leave you without any sudden warning.
Tequila isn’t the answer to your problems.
You may think you need that extra shot because you can still remember the troubles of the past week, but you don’t. Let yourself enjoy your weekends, but learn your limits and don’t self-medicate.
Stop worrying; you’ll end up where you belong someday.
I know it feels like you’ll never find out where you belong, or just as it does, the ground slips out from under you. Just keep holding on because life does fall into place and you will find where you fit in this world. It’ll never feel like you have it all together, but just realize that no one else does either.
Not everyone has the same heart that you do.
I’m still trying to get over this one. Just because you’ll do X, Y, and Z for someone does not mean they will even think twice in helping you with anything. You can climb mountains for people who won’t even pick up the phone when you call because they’re busy. People are allowed to be selfish, but that doesn’t mean you have to stick around to put up with it. It doesn’t mean they’re bad people, but you do deserve better.
