Dear 10 year old me…

As cliché as it sounds, childhood was such a simpler time. We could run around and get dirty, our homework was MUCH easier, and the only thing we had to stress about was whether or not Gordo was going to tell Lizzie how he felt about her. Ah, those were the days.

As a 21 year old woman who has seen her fair share of joys and difficulties, I wish I could go back in time to share some of my wisdom with my 10 year old self.

1. I know how much you worry about people not liking you, people judging you, people thinking badly of you… Do not let those thoughts overtake you. Will some people not like you? Yes. Will some people judge you? Yes. Will some people think badly of you? Yes. But not all will think that. The one person you can trust as a child is the one person you can trust as an adult. Yup, that’s right; Kristin is still your best friend. 15 years later, she is still your rock, your soul sister, your immediate go-to. No matter how long you go without seeing each other or how many miles apart you are, she will ALWAYS be your best friend.
2. Do NOT, under any circumstances, tell your parents which boy you think is cute… just don’t…
3. Aaron seems like the most annoying person to ever walk the planet, right? He’s loud, obnoxious, nosy, rude, and, sometimes, just plain mean. But in the end, he is all you have. From moving to bullies, he is your constant friend.
4. Stop feeling so bad about your performance at the talent show! You got up on that stage and sang your heart out. That takes guts! So what if you missed a note or two? Be proud of yourself!
5. I know how bad the bullying is right now. I wish I could say that it will go away, but it doesn’t. it will get better, though. Your real friends will help you. You are smart. You are kind. You are compassionate. You are strong. You may be naïve, but you are not stupid. You may be hurt easily, but it’s because you care. Your body may be built differently, but you are beautiful in your own way.

Trust me, you will understand all of this when you are older…