I was wondering what I would tell my younger self the other day. My brain instantly came up with an amazingly long list of all the advice I’d love to pass on to all young people… but the topic was directed at myself, so… some things I’d like to tell my younger self (if I could):
Expect to get hurt (both physically and emotionally). No matter how much you try to avoid it, you’re gonna get hurt. Expect it. Learn the lesson you were meant to learn and move on. Don’t dwell on the hurt.
Open up your mind even further. You may be open minded now, but there are a LOT of things that you wouldn’t/couldn’t believe out there.
Do the things you’re interested in, and don’t let anyone tell you it’s not worth it. At the same time, don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. Their opinion has no bearing on who you are as a person. (Just don’t forget to do the things you HAVE to do, also.) In this way, you’ll be able to find who you are… the things you like about yourself… the things you’d like to change.
There will be people who genuinely like you for who you are. While it’s a great feeling, don’t instantly trust them and jump into something that takes time to build. Sometimes they’re only pretending.
Be wary of religion and what it’s teaching you. Learn from other religions (they all have important things to say). Don’t lock yourself into rules and edicts that ‘people’ have set down to believe in. You’ve got a good idea of what’s right and wrong… trust that instinct.
Sex is a part of life. Too many people give it too much importance. It’s great. It feels good (when you’re with the right person). It’ll happen. Your attention can be used for much more important things. Still, be careful (there’s a lot of STDs and things you can get), but it’s not a taboo thing to enjoy. (And don’t feel so guilty after having sex for the first time… remember what I said about religion?)
No matter how terrifying it sounds… tell someone how you feel about them. Express yourself. You aren’t responsible for how others react to what you say, but they can’t react until you tell them. Be honest, yet respectful, when you do.
Brush your teeth. Just do it.
Exercise a little. Again, stop being lazy.
Do NOT mess up your credit. The first step in this advice is not to be so pressured into going to college. That one debt will haunt you forever, especially since you never actually use the degree you earned. On the same note, college is good for some people, it isn’t for everyone. College should be for those who absolutely know what they want to do (it should also be free, but that’s not on your shoulders), so… people who are well into their 30’s.
Biggest piece of advice I could pass on would be to start writing now. It makes you happy. It’s probably one of the most cathartic things you could ever do. You meet some of the coolest people, too. I know, writing? Really, dude… writing.
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