Dear Younger Me,

I've contemplated writing you this letter over and over again in my mind. I thought about how different things would be if you only knew what the future holds for you, both the pain and the joys.

I thought about how many decisions you would change after hearing about their poor outcomes, or how many you would do more of after hearing about their positive lasting effects on others and yourself.

I thought about telling you the names of people to avoid in your life, the friends that didn't come with the best of intentions and the boys who weren't quite ready for your big heart.

I thought about telling you what major you'll end up excelling in during college in order to save you from having to switch majors once, twice, maybe even three times.

I thought about telling you to stop wasting your money on pointless things and to start saving early because life gets more expensive with age.

After contemplating all these things, and many more, I decided that all of that advice, although helpful, is completely unnecessary.

All the choices that you have yet to make pave the road to the future where I am today.

While I want to maximize all the joy and happiness in your life and take away all the sadness, that just isnt how life works around here.

When we experience sadness, pain, and struggle in our lives it is to be accepted, expected, and then redirected towards something greater.

Although I wish for you to live in a pain free world, sometimes it often takes a little sadness in our life in order for us to gain perspective and enjoy the good days that we are blessed with.

So, while warning you about friends, boys, college/careers, and saving money would be a kind gesture, im going to leave you with this simple poem for you to refer back to on days when you arent feeling so sure about your life, or need a quick pick-me-up.

Take this life one day at a time, don't get panicked or over stressed

Remember that everyday you wake up healthy, you wake up blessed

Its the little things in life that truly matter, do'nt pay attention to the rest

Be kind and loving to everyone you encounter and you'll pass life's hardest test

When your having a bad day and start to believe that "it only gets worse from here"

Put your life into perspective, don't be dramatic like that of Shakespeare

Don't rely on others for happiness, you have to be content with yourself first

Spread beauty everywhere you go, taking your talennts and making them dispersed

When you're having a great day make sure to hold it in your memory forever

Remember your mood everyday is your choice, its like that of a lever

You have the option of leaving it flipped towards "happiness" instead of the reverse

When people hear your name you want them to think "blessing" not "curse"

Take this life one day at a time, on the highway of life go fifteen in a thirty

And with all this gentle advice you will truly live a life that's quite sturdy