When we're little we don't notice the little things, we didn't stop to take a moment in and we dreamt of being adults far too much. We always want what we can't have and then years later when we have it, we wish we would have cherished childhood a little more. We spend a lot of time doing things that our older selves wish we hadn't wasted time on. Here are things we all wish our childhood selves had known! Hindsight is 20/20, right?
1. Stop Worrying So Much About What People Think Of You.
You will struggle with this for the foreseeable future. It is hard to look at yourself in the mirror and be happy, but decide what makes YOU happy and be THAT! Stop worrying about what other people think of you. What one random person thinks shouldn't change the way you love yourself. This is easier said than done, but start now and later you will thank yourself.
2. LOVE YOURSELF.
Stop with the self loathing. Stop looking at other girl's bodies, hair, makeup and waistline and love yourself for who you are. You will never be anything but what you are. The moment you accept that is the moment that you will be able to love yourself. THAT is a beautiful feeling.
3. Be Respectful To Your Parents.
This seems like a no brainer, but I promise when you hit about 13 it gets hard. Your hormones are raging and for some reason you have so much pent up anger that you don't know what to do with it. DO NOT take it out on your parents. They are disciplining you because you need it, you little brat. They are giving you advice because they have been around longer than you and know A LOT more than you do. Take the anger out on the court, on the track or maybe punch your little brother but don't take it out on mom and dad. They do the best they can. You will later realize that their best was pretty dang amazing.
4. Don't Be Mean To Your Friends.
You don't look cool and it isn't going to make you popular. Those friends that you're leaving behind, the ones you're being a super b**ch to? Those are the friends that are going to hold you when one of your crappy boyfriends breaks your heart. Those friends are the ones that are going to make you laugh so hard you cry on the soccer bus at 11 p.m. at night on a school night. Those are the friends that actually care. Stop trying to impress the ones that never will.
5. Stop Worrying About Boyfriends.
I know. It's like everyone around you (in the 8th grade) has a boyfriend and you don't. Suck it up buttercup. Having a boyfriend is a lot of work that you just don't realize yet. The older you get the more difficult it gets to be in a relationship. There will come a time where you will appreciate being single more than you ever thought you would. Don't waste your time worrying about boys now, you have plenty of time for that later.
6. Hug Your Grandparents Every Chance You Get.
Right now it feels like they will live forever, but they won't. It's a great feeling to look up at your grandpa and feel like he's going to live forever. The day he passes away, even if it's been coming, will be such a surprise to you. They won't live forever. There will be a day when you're sitting at college and you get a call that he's getting worse. There will come a night when your mom knocks on your door at 5 in the morning to tell you he's gone. Hug them while you can. Spend as much time with them as you can. Put them before your friends and your boyfriends. Hug them tighter and a few seconds longer.
7. Enjoy Not Having Any Responsibilities.
The biggest responsibility you have is making sure you get your homework done. Treasure that. Treasure that you can sit in class and finish homework for the next class really quick. Be thankful that you don't have to have a job and you don't have to worry about car payments or gas or insurance. Be thankful that your education is (most likely) free, and you don't have to worry about how your tuition is going to get paid for every semester.
8. Stop Begging For A Cell Phone.
Right now it seems like the most important thing in the world that you have a cell phone. It is not. There will come a day when you will be looking down at your screen and realize that is what you spend most of your time doing. It's a waste of time. Being THAT connected to everyone all the time is exhausting. Hold off from it for as long as possible.
9. Stop Trying To Grow Up So Fast.
It's hard when you're young to not want to be an adult. I remember longing for adulthood daily. Love your childhood. Spend as much time playing and acting goofy as possible. When you become an adult people expect you to be serious and responsible. It's not all bad, but it's definitely different.
10. Read, Read, Read And Then Read Some More.
As you get older there will be less and less time to read. The older you get the more books you will accumulate and there won't be a lot of time to read them. Read now. It makes your smart and it's a great stress reliever.
11. Sometimes Life Is Hard.
Sometimes life is really hard, and things come at you really fast. Right now things seem really great and like nothing in the world will stop you. Many things WILL try to stop you, but don't let them. Be strong, and never for a moment let yourself believe you aren't.
