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19 Things I Wish I Could Tell My Younger Self

19 things I've learned that I wish I could go back in time to tell my younger self.

Mar 26, 2019

19 Things I Wish I Could Tell My Younger Self

As I turn nineteen, I've been reflecting a lot on my life thus far and about how much I have grown. I know so much more about myself, the people around me, and the world now, and sometimes I wish I could go back in time to tell myself what I know now. In honor of my nineteenth birthday, I've come up with nineteen things I wish I could tell younger me, and although I can't do that, I'm glad that I know these things now.

1. That voice of yours? Use it. Those thoughts in your head? Share them. Stop sitting back and waiting for someone to call on you or ask you. Speak up.

2. Don't blame yourself for things other people did to you. It's not your fault. You didn't ask for it. You didn't deserve it.

3. Don't forget to love yourself. There is so much to love about you.

4. You really, really like tea. You should start drinking it sooner.

5. Be proud. The closet is safe and it's warm, but life is so much more beautiful outside of it.

6. Your real friends will love you for the real you. Don't hide who you are or pretend to be something you're not to get approval. Anyone who can't accept you for who you are doesn't deserve to be in your life.

7. You also really like country music. Start listening to it sooner. You're missing out.

8. Don't stop reading and writing. They both mean way too much for you to stop. Remember what they mean to you. Find the time for them.

9. Stop doing things you don't enjoy. It doesn't matter how good it'll look on an application or to other people. Life's too short to waste it on things that make you unhappy.

10. Let your hair down (literally and figuratively). Not everything has to be so serious. Be goofy and weird and spontaneous and sing at the top of your lungs. Also, don't hate your curls. They're weird during puberty, but they end up being super cute.

11. The people who left you did it for a reason. Stop wishing for them to come back or wondering what you did to deserve it. Not everyone is meant to stay in your life. Keep moving forward.

12. Stop worrying about disappointing others. Make yourself proud. That's all that matters.

13. You can't help everyone and you can't fix everything. Stop expecting yourself to be able to. The weight of the whole world doesn't have to be on your shoulders.

14. Stop rushing through life. Take a minute and breathe. Stop and smell the roses. The adventure isn't just about the destination but also the journey. Just focus on today. Tomorrow will come, but today is ending. Focus on it. Enjoy it. Live in it. Today is the tomorrow you were thinking about yesterday. Don't let it go to waste.

15. Don't fight for people to love you who you know never will. Stop accepting the love you think you deserve and start accepting the love you actually do deserve.

16. He was right when he said you didn't deserve him. You deserve so much better.

17. Believe people when they say you can do something. You will do amazing things that are beyond your wildest dreams. You are capable of so much, so let people believe in you and believe in yourself.

18. Your parents and brothers are your best friends. They understand you like nobody else does. They support you no matter what. They love you more than anyone and always will.

19. Everything is going to be okay. It may not seem like it now, but I promise you that you will be okay. Things may be rough now, but you will make it through it all. You will be stronger because of it. You may never be happy that it happened, but you will be a better person because of it.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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19 Things I Wish I Could Tell My Younger Self

19 things I've learned that I wish I could go back in time to tell my younger self.

1. That voice of yours? Use it. Those thoughts in your head? Share them. Stop sitting back and waiting for someone to call on you or ask you. Speak up.

2. Don't blame yourself for things other people did to you. It's not your fault. You didn't ask for it. You didn't deserve it.

3. Don't forget to love yourself. There is so much to love about you.

4. You really, really like tea. You should start drinking it sooner.

5. Be proud. The closet is safe and it's warm, but life is so much more beautiful outside of it.

6. Your real friends will love you for the real you. Don't hide who you are or pretend to be something you're not to get approval. Anyone who can't accept you for who you are doesn't deserve to be in your life.

7. You also really like country music. Start listening to it sooner. You're missing out.

8. Don't stop reading and writing. They both mean way too much for you to stop. Remember what they mean to you. Find the time for them.

9. Stop doing things you don't enjoy. It doesn't matter how good it'll look on an application or to other people. Life's too short to waste it on things that make you unhappy.

10. Let your hair down (literally and figuratively). Not everything has to be so serious. Be goofy and weird and spontaneous and sing at the top of your lungs. Also, don't hate your curls. They're weird during puberty, but they end up being super cute.

11. The people who left you did it for a reason. Stop wishing for them to come back or wondering what you did to deserve it. Not everyone is meant to stay in your life. Keep moving forward.

12. Stop worrying about disappointing others. Make yourself proud. That's all that matters.

13. You can't help everyone and you can't fix everything. Stop expecting yourself to be able to. The weight of the whole world doesn't have to be on your shoulders.

15. Don't fight for people to love you who you know never will. Stop accepting the love you think you deserve and start accepting the love you actually do deserve.

16. He was right when he said you didn't deserve him. You deserve so much better.

17. Believe people when they say you can do something. You will do amazing things that are beyond your wildest dreams. You are capable of so much, so let people believe in you and believe in yourself.

18. Your parents and brothers are your best friends. They understand you like nobody else does. They support you no matter what. They love you more than anyone and always will.

19. Everything is going to be okay. It may not seem like it now, but I promise you that you will be okay. Things may be rough now, but you will make it through it all. You will be stronger because of it. You may never be happy that it happened, but you will be a better person because of it.

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May the odds be ever in your favor.

Phase One: The “I got this” phase

Phase Two: The “I have time” phase

Phase Three: The uncontrollable sobbing phase

Phase Four: The “help me, I've fallen and I can't get up” phase

Phase Five: The rejoicing phase

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

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