If I Were To Speak To My 16 Year Old Self, I Would Say This..

You may not know this yet, but you are going to grow a lot. Believe it or not, life does not revolve around that little bubble that you and your friends are in right now. There is a big, scary world out there just waiting to eat you up. Yet, do not let that intimidate you.

The world will try to harden you. There are some terrible, terrible people in this world. But, if you look closely, there are some beautiful people with wonderful souls out there, as well. Do not let your encounters with the bad counteract all the good that you come into contact with. Seek out the beauty in this world. Take in all that this world has to offer.

The life of a teenager can be very, very stressful. Keep solace in the fact that in five years, much of what you're worrying about will not really matter. Do not get lost in the moment of worrying and be unable to enjoy what is happening around you. Do not fear that others are watching you, or caring about what you look like. You will learn that people are very self-absorbed and there is a very low chance that they are spending their time thinking about what you're wearing. So, while whatever you're dealing with may seem terrible and worry-some right now, but the chances are, it will all fade in a few years.

As you get older, you will have more responsibilities and more work to do. You may grow a family and have some children to take care of. Before you enter all of that, travel. Trust me, do it now because your answer afterwards will likely be "later" or "it's not a good time." Go and see the beautiful world that we live in before you get hardened by life. Meet people from each country that you visit and learn about their lifestyles. Learn about their customs. Get a deeper appreciation for all this world has to offer.

Getting older can seem scary. It can be stressful. But, it can also be good fun. You are setting out to make your mark on this world. People will question your intentions. They will question who you are. They will try to mould you to be what they want you to be. Do not go down a path that does not align with your own morals, standards and beliefs. Hold strong to your faith and values. Once you show people that you are confident in who you are as a person, they will leave you alone. They will respect your wishes. Do not give in to temptation, of which there is a lot of in this world and most importantly, have fun. You will find in ten years, that you wish that you smiled more and had more fun than spent your time worrying and being scared.

Love,
"Much older" me