As a child, I’m sure you heard it all the time: “you don’t understand, you’re just a kid.” What don’t we understand and why don’t we understand it? Yes, you may be many years older than us, but that doesn’t make us any less capable of understanding.

Growing up, I’ve come to realize that the phrase “you don’t understand, you’re just a kid” is just something that someone came up with because they didn’t want to tell their kid something.

Here’s a little secret: no one understands. Even as an adult, no one has any idea what is going on. They’re just as confused as we are.

What is there to understand? Work, family, relationships, death-- all of those are complex varieties of life. No one can possibly understand them; you’ll go crazy if you try.

As a teenager you’re told time and time again that you’ll get it when you’re older. You’re confused now, but eventually things will make sense. You’ll figure out what you want to do with your life-- where you want to work, if you want to go to college, if you want kids, if you even want a family. Even though you’re confused and nothing makes sense now, give it time and things will eventually work out. Follow the right path, do what you think will get you through and eventually you will get through.

You may get through and have a life and a family and a nice job but you’re still going to be confused. It’s the world’s dirty little secret. You’re just going to have to tough it out and make sense of it all.

I’m not writing this to scare you or make you worry. I’m trying to prepare you. Don’t go into adulthood thinking you’re going to conquer the world because it will not happen no matter how hard you try. You will fail. You will fall on your face multiple times. You just have to stand back up, wipe yourself off and keep moving.

My best advice for you is to surround yourself with a great support system. Even though you fail, you can never be a failure with the right support system. These are people that are there for you, not only when you are doing good, but are there when you are at your lowest and not sure how you will continue. Those are your people. Hold on to them.

Whether you are 15 or 51, you will not understand what is going on around you. Whether it be life or politics or anything else, you will be absolutely confused.

Don’t let it stop you from living life, though. Even though you have no idea what is happening around you, own it. Do what you like. Do what you think you want to do, even if it’s not what you want to do in the long run. Don’t be afraid to fail-- everyone does. Don’t try to figure things out, you’ll just end up more confused. Just live your life and, more importantly, have fun.