Recently, I talked with a friend about all the things we wish we had known as teenagers. Our formative years would have been a lot less painful, if someone had just talked to us and told us that our teen years don't define or are even an indicator for the rest of our lives. Teen girls: life is not as damatic as it seems in the ages of 14-19.

This is what I would tell my younger self:

Your social life is not over if you don't have plans for Saturday evening by Wednesday afternoon.

Boys lie.

True friends don't test your friendship.

Wear sunscreen and embrace your paleness. If not, this WILL come back to haunt you!

Don't care so much about what others think of you. They are more concerned with themselves.

Focus on school more!

Don't be sad that you can't afford brand-name clothes like some other girls at school. They don't define whether someone is a likable person.

Stand up for yourself more often. You don't need to take shit!

Pick your friends wisely. Many seem cool but those will turn out to be the ones who will have the least to show for when they are grown-ups.

It's ok to be single in your teenage years. There is PLENTY of time!

Girls lie.

Follow your dreams! You will fullfil most of them - and sooner than you think.

Guard your heart!

It's ok to say no to people. Even adults.

Stop worrying about every little decision you make. They will not determine the rest of your life.

Don't do something just to prove to others you are worthy of their friendship. They are bullies. If they don't accept you for who you are and don't respect when you don't want to do what they tell you to do then they are not worthy of YOUR friendship.

Don't blame yourself so much when things go wrong. Not everything is your fault.

Some people are just mean. They are not mean to you because you deserve to be treated poorly (because you don't) but because they are unhappy with themselves.

Don't believe her when she says you are only worth something when you have a man by your side.

Don't listen to him. You WILL make something of your life. More than you could ever imagine.

Smoking is not cool. It is pointless. People don't like you more with a cigarette in your mouth.

The same is true for drinking.

Hide your diary in a better place.

Making mistakes does not mean you are a stupid person. It makes you human. Only those who never try anything never make mistakes.

You will find love. It will take a while and lots of tears, fears and heartache but you will find it.

Most important of all: learn to love yourself even if you hate yourself sometimes. Sometimes you will hate yourself for no apparant reason. Why not try loving yourself for no apparant reason as well. :)

And don't forget: you are a good person - no matter how hard some people along the way will try to make you feel that your are not. A person who doesn't make you feel good about who you are, is not someone you need to keep in your life just to be polite or to try to 'make it work' (because that's what you do). No! Let go and you will feel free!

In LOVE and RESPECT,

Your Older, Wiser Self

PS: I love you!

You can follow me at https://www.facebook.com/misseuroblogger/