Right now you’re a bright eyed, long haired sixteen-year-old who sees the best in everyone and thinks that the world is on her side. I’d give anything to be as blissful and content as you are now.
When the going gets tough, take a step back and breathe. You’re feeling a lot of pressure to be what everyone expects you to be, and you’re expected to know exactly what you want to do with the rest of your life. You’re seriously thinking about your future for the first time, and yeah, it’s scary. It’s stressful sometimes, but you know what? It’s not the end of the world.
When the boy that loves you changes his mind, go ahead and cry. Cry, listen to terrible music, and go a few hours without eating before binging on pizza. Then, pick your head up and look at your self-worth. What he thinks of you does not define you. You were your own person before he came into your life, and you’re sure as hell still your own person now. You don’t need him to tell you you’re amazing, because soon enough, you’ll realize it yourself. It’s not the end of the world.
When you’re realizing that some of your friends aren’t your real friends, you have to move on. Friends will come and go, but it will become clear who your true friends are when you look around and see who’s there for you without hesitation. If the “friends” you have now don’t meet this expectation, then you need to move on, because guess what? It’s not the end of the world.
When you fight with your parents, of course you’re going to think you’re right, because at sixteen, you always are. But realistically, they will always want what’s best for you, whether you realize it or not. You and your mom have probably both said some things you didn’t mean at this point, but you need to forgive and forget as soon as possible. So what, she was right and you were wrong. It’s not the end of the world.
Overall, I want you to embrace the days of your life where you’re young, sweet, and pure. Sixteen is really a great year, because you’re getting a small taste of the real world without fully experiencing it, which is what every adult wishes they could go back to at some point in their life. I wish I could tell you to never change anything about yourself to please anyone, because you’re perfect the way you are, but unfortunately, you have to live and learn. Before you turn eighteen, you’ll make a lot of mistakes and learn a lot of lessons. You’ll gain and lose people along the way, but life is a beautiful journey, especially when you’re young. It’s unpredictable, and there’s nothing you can do about it, so you might as well learn to love life and everyone around you. Enjoy every moment, because no matter how bad it gets, it’s not the end of the world.
