I don't know why this popped into my head, but yesterday I started to write a list of things I would tell the kid version of me if I could hop in a time machine and go back 15 or 20 years. It's stuff I really wish I would have known, cuz I could have saved myself a lot of misery, or at the very least it would have been nice to know that things will be ok. I ended up with this: - You are not ugly
- Don’t let all your self-worth depend on what boys say to you
- Don’t listen to the shit your sister says; she’s angry and hateful, and always will be. That has nothing to do with you
- Stop trying so hard to win your dad’s approval; you’re never going to get it, and eventually you won’t want it anyway
- Don’t blow off your best friend the day he randomly rides his bike to your house; that will be the last time you ever see him
- The first time your high school boyfriend treats you like crap, run. You’re worth more than that. And if you don’t run soon enough and he hits you, hit him back.
- Don’t believe him when he says no one will ever love you. He’s so wrong
- You’re stronger and smarter than you realize
- The bad stuff that happens to you will end up making you a wiser, kinder person, so don’t feel sorry for yourself
- Those mean girls never amount to much, the shit they say never ends up meaning anything, and you move so far beyond it after high school. So don’t let them get to you
- Basically what I’m telling you is that high school will be a fucking nightmare, but you’ll survive. Life gets way better after that.
- Don’t stress about declaring a college major. It’s not as important as your guidance counselor claims, and you won’t work in your field of study anyway
- But work a little harder your freshmen year
- Do not get that shooting star tattoo. But go ahead and get all your other tattoos
- Do a better job saving money. All those expensive high heels end up at Goodwill
- Your family will never be what you want it to be, but you’ll get adopted by your future husband’s family, and it will be wonderful
- Everything that you think will never be ok, ends up being ok
- That horribly turbulent plane you’re on in China will not go down. Relax.
- The things you worry about are not worth worrying about
- You’ll never regret the things you do, the chances you take, and the adventures you pursue. You will regret the times you pass those things up and sit at home.
- It takes a while, but you finally end up with a job you love, so no, you're not stuck living with your parents forever
- Stop doubting yourself
- Your future husband is everything you were hoping for, and more
- Grad school will be even better than you expected
- --and, of course--
- When you start planning your wedding, plan the small celebration you really want and decline your father’s money.
ETF crazy formatting .Yikes
What would you say to the kid version of yourself if you could go back and talk to her?