things i wish i could tell my teenage self

there are a lot of obvious things i would like to tell my teenage self like don't drink because hangovers suck, and other typical stuff, but I have far more specific things i *wish* i could have told myself. I have made a lot of mistakes, many of which were in my teens, and if i would have listened to anybody (which is probably doubtful) maybe my future self could have gotten through.

1. Older guys are NOT cool. You know what i mean, and knock it off. if a guy is 10 years older than you, but still has your same interests he is a loser, and immature. it is not cool to have an older boyfriend, in fact it should be considered lame that you connect with a grown-ass adult like they are a child. this is their problem, not yours and don't forget that. In case you don't learn your lesson with this advise the first time, be prepared that you WILL learn it the second time and it will be hell, and the worst experience you will have in your life.

2. Not everyone is an asshole. Pessimistic views and teenagers are like mac&cheese, but some people in your life are looking out for you, and when you get older they will prove that. Whatever you think of people right now will change. nothing in life is constant and that is the only constant you will have in life. People change, people evolve, people grow apart and that is OK. everything will be just fine, you can and will live with and without some people despite what you think of them now.

3. Don't move out! at least not at 17, huge mistake. you probably won't listen (remember point #1) but know even if you make big mistakes you will land on your feet. I would say you are like a cat because the shit storm you will get into and out of because of bad/misguided decisions will feel like you have dodged about 9lives worth of bullets. It will be OK eventually, but the bottom is not going to be fun, and having no money will leave you there a while.

4. You have an excellent memory but try not to use it on other people. you will be a happier person if you can learn to let things slide. people make mistakes, as will you, and you wouldn't want people holding things against you for years just because they remember them. i don't think that this is going to happen, as my current self is still working on this, but maybe if i tried earlier i would be in a better place now.

5. life is NOT going to turn out the way you are expecting/planning/anticipating. NEVER. no not even if you plan it that way. or that way. just no.

6. somethings in life are really important, and some things are not. same goes for people. try to decipher early which is which. putting energy into things that are doomed to fail is a waste and could be spent on so much more worthy causes/people.

7. you won't be famous, so you don't need to make your life as drama filled as possible. just because Elizabeth Taylor had wide love affairs and multiple marriages with wildly inappropriate men does not mean you need to follow suite. no one is writing a biography on your life, so making things 10 times more complicated than they need to be will only cause you heart ache.

8. learn to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away and know when to run. I think this is self explanatory...but just in case see point #1 and #3 for reference. this would probably the most important thing for you to learn, because holding on too long only hurts more in the end.

that's what i think would be most important. I, like many others I'm sure, wish i could have a time machine and go back to make things right/better for myself. I don't think i could do that now, because the things i have learned and lived through have stuck with me like a bad rain cloud. i wish i could just go back and erase all the bad because i was a really nice when i was young.