Dear 16-Year-Old Me

Dear 16-Year-Old Tayler,

“You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” 

-Aibileen Clark, The Help

Remember this quote whenever you are feeling discouraged, stressed or like you can’t go on. These feelings are all normal and will come and go. I guarantee life will get better. You will find your passions, meet some amazing people and make your mark along the way. You don’t know it yet because you think this is as good as life will get but I promise it only gets bigger and better from here on out.

Keep your family and friends close. Don’t push people away. They will be your rock when you feel like drifting off and forgetting about priorities.

Loosen up. Don’t solely focus on just school work. Hang out with your friends. Enjoy being young while you can because in just a few couple of years you’ll be so busy you wish you could go back. You’ll always be wishing you could go back. Think in the present though! Look at how far you’ve come and all the great decisions you’ve made along the way.

Put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid of the “what-ifs” or only being comfortable. Change begins at the end of your comfort zone. In just a couple of years you will have moved out of this zone and your life will have only changed for the better because of it.

Be genuine and kind. It’s going to be hard to always be happy but if you practice at it and always keep a smile on your face it’ll be so much easier. Find ways everyday to put a smile on your face. Hang out with your friends, vent to them, laugh with them, tell them about what you’re grateful for. Just keep it real at least 90% of the time. This will gravitate other real and genuine people into your life.

Finally, just keep making the best decisions you can with the people you love surrounding you and always keep that smile on your face.

Sincerely,

Your 19-Year-Old Self