10 Things I Wish I Had Known At Sixteen - Series (Part 1)

10 Things I  Wish I Had Know At Sixteen 

1.   Don't take life too seriously. Breathe, relax. You won't ever be this young again, so make it count because the next three years after this become serious, you'll get older and have more responsibilities. You're not old yet, and even if you try, you'll never really have your future all figured out, not even at twenty - trust me. So cherish every moment you have now. They're more important than you realize.

2.   Take care of yourself. Don't be reckless. This isn't the time to experiment with pot, or weed just because your friends are. You can save money for other things, instead of possibly becoming a weed addict. And please don't drunk drive! Not even a little bit, not even for a spin. Drunk driving is the number 1 cause of teen death in the U.S. You have a wonderful life ahead of you and you can be so much more than a statistic, don't waste your life for one night of fun that ends horrifically.**

3.   You don't love that boy, or girl.  No matter how much you think you do, so don't spend so much time trying to please them or make them like you. The right person will come along eventually, and you won't have to try as hard. It'll just happen, so wait. You won't regret it, and you'll probably say I told you so.

4a.   Respect your parents, tell them things, love them. If they ask you about school, don't give one word answers, really tell them. They'll be pleasantly surprised and open up more to you, plus it builds  mutual respect.

(*Hint: Less arguments.)

They'll be gone one day, so love them. They love you much more they let on and have sacrificed more than you think to make you happy.

Ps: they're probably a lot more fun to hang out with than you think.

4b.   Your mom and dad love you a lot more than they let on, and if you're going through something tell them. No matter how scared you are, or how you think they might react. They love you. Too many people end up the wrong way because they  relied on just  friends for advice when they had parents. Give them some credit! They're older and have been through the same things. Their methods are tried and true, unlike your friends  who are the same ages as you, or even a few years older.

Ps: If you still need to  talk to someone and you can't tell your parents, click here, or email me, we'll help.

5.   Try to build actual relationship with your siblings. Don't just bully them. Yes, they can be annoying but  you'll need them when you're older, and you'll miss them too. Sibling relationships that aren't built when you're little are harder to form the older you get, and literally, these relationships could be severed for a lifetime ( Not even visiting over Christmas). It's not worth it, you'll wish you had been closer when you were little. Plus; perks include having somewhere to crash for the night when your sibling has an apartment.

6. Start forming habits you know you won't regret later. Like, making your bed every morning, and having your bath too. It's really worth it. If you start now, they become habits over a lifetime, and you won't be the 20 year old who doesn't know how to do laundry or has never boiled an egg. Cook too, if you can. Experiment with recipes.

7.   Don't care much about what people think about you, Be yourself, you might shock people. Though  the truth is every one else wants to be themselves too. They're just too scared. Even the popular girl. She's just  putting other people down because she's insecure and it makes her feel better . Don't give in to her. She's human, so don't let her get to you. Be happy, and be you. Maybe she'll start to be herself too when she sees she isn't getting to you.

7b.   Take the time to figure out yourself. Who are you? What do you like? Keep a book on the things you realize about yourself. Maybe you like Kelloggs and Froot loops hurts your tummy. It's important, write it down. Or you realize you like to dance to classical music and don't really fancy pop?  It's you. It's important to know who you are, who God made you. It'll help you make better decisions in the future. Think of it like a personal manual. A you guide book.

8.   Make sure you're putting in your best in the things you're doing. You can work harder and do better than you're doing now. It'll be worth it when you need to apply for college, or when you get out of college if you're already in. Trust me. Do your best. You won't regret it.

9.  Stand up for yourself and don't let people walk all over you. They will be taken aback the first time you do it, if you've never done it before, and some might try to beat you down, but stand, they'll learn to respect you and leave you alone. Stand up for others too. You're all  teens, all in puberty stages, and you could make someones day. That kid in the hallway that gets bullied? Stand up for him. He'll thank you and you'll feel good knowing you helped someone.

10. Don't waste time comparing yourself and your progress to other peoples. Truth is, no two people's journeys are the same. You'll realize it. And even though you don't think so, fewer people have their lives figured out than you think.

Love, life

**Car crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens in the U.S. Believe it.Teens are four times more likely to die or be injured in a car crash than older people and In 2003, teens accounted for 10% of the U.S. population but were involved in 13% of car crash fatalities. Seem unfair? It is! (I'm serious, please don't drunk drive!) - If you ever feel like it, remember this, and me, and there might not be a second chance. God loves you.