I thought it was an appropriate song for this post.
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If you were anything like me during my middle/high school years, you probably struggled a lot through life by trial and error. But I don't pretend to be an all-knowing college student now, either. It's one of my goals to never think I know best based solely on seniority.
But there are a lot of things I know now that would have helped a lot when I was younger. Not only in boosting my confidence, but in improving social relations with my peers. Therefore, I have compiled yet another list, this one all about advice to the younger generation (and maybe even the older one too), to give them a heads up about what's coming, and for myself to look back on during those inevitable bad days.
Thus, I present:
- You are stronger than you think.
- You are crueler than you think.
- The smallest words will break you.
- You'll forget your email password years from now, but you'll remember the throwaway preference that one best friend had that even they did not expect you to remember.
- You will change. You're not the same you were five years ago, let alone five minutes ago, and that's okay. Especially if you didn't like the person you used to be.
- People come, and people go. Some are incense burners, others are forest fires.
- You don't have to open the curtains or the door if you don't want to.
- You body loves you. It works 24/7 to keep you alive, and that's all it has to live for. It breathes when you sleep, heals bones when they break, stops cuts from bleeding, finds ways to beat the illness before it gets to you. You body literally loves you so much. Love it back.
- You won't like your name until you hear someone say it in their sleep.
- Never stop yourself from talking to them if you need to. No matter the time. They will understand.
- Find a safe place. Doesn't matter if it's the living room floor or the back corner of a coffee shop or up in a tree. Just make sure you have somewhere safe.
- You will have all kinds of phobias - spiders, heights, darkness, eating alone - but your biggest fear will be that others will see you the way you see yourself.
- Make friends with the broken people, the scarred survivors of this world. They know how to pull through.
- People say "I love you" in so many different ways. "You can have the last fry," or "Take an umbrella, it's raining," or "You're such a dork." Learn to listen for it.
- Sometimes, looking at someone will be like looking into the sun. Sometimes, someone will look at you like you are the sun. Wait for it.
- You can love and hate someone all at one. You can miss them so much you ache, but still ignore a text they send.
- Prioritize your mental health over your academic success.
- Loneliness and being alone are two totally different things. One is a state of mind, the other is a state of being. You will feel both.
- Instant hot chocolate takes two minutes to make, and tea takes three. Neither requires culinary expertise. Indulge yourself when you need it.
- If you have a pet in your life, you've no idea of the honor. To them, you are their whole world. Love them as much as they unconditionally love you. Let them make you smile.
- There is honesty, and then there is brutal honesty. Know the difference, and know who can or can't stand each.
- You are good at something, even if it's remembering birthdays or figuring out what makes different people laugh. Don't let anyone ever tell you those things don't matter.
- Never assume something of anyone, be it of the friend you've known your whole life or the dude on the streets. Likewise for arguments; if you've got a problem with someone, there's an 85% chance they have a different story, where you might even be the villain.
- Stay alive on the off chance that tomorrow is the day it all changes.
- Be the person you needed when you were younger.
And most importantly, you will be okay.
That is all.
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