To My Younger Self

S. and I were reading about the book What I Know Now: Letters to My Younger Self by Ellyn Spragins and loved the idea of looking back on what has happened in our lives and what we would tell ourselves if we could go back to those times.  S is in pink. G is in purple.

• If you don't have my number between the hours of 10am and 10 pm I don’t have yours between the hours of 10 pm and 10 am.
• Who cares if you don’t call me at all? Guys are everywhere.  No matter who it is, there is always someone who is better looking, has more money, friendlier, or any other trait you can imagine just around the corner. You will regret passing the worthy guys up way more than giving up on the guy who gives you a chase.
• Anything that goes down after 2 a.m. is no good, when alcohol is involved.
• Some of the best times I’ve ever had have occurred after 2 a.m. but better things could have happened with the same people if they had occurred 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. sans alcohol.
• Enjoy every moment in college it will be over before you know it. 
• Don’t give up a normal college life for a guy.  At twenty-two you may think you already know what and who you want in life but you have no idea who YOU are yet much less what you want.  Make friends, make mistakes, and never be unhappy; Regret is the worst feeling in the world and you can never go back.
• You can't ever go back and expect things to be the same, it just doesn't work that way.
• Sometimes you just have to walk away.  Relationships, romantic and friendly, end for a reason.  Getting back together or trying to salvage a friendship when damage has been done makes the inevitable so much harder.  If it was bad before it will be worse now.
• Always remember certain people aren't in your life anymore for a reason. 
• It’s ok to miss who someone used to be or to miss certain moments and its ok to let it break your heart a little bit.  But you aren’t the same person and neither are they.  Sometimes no one is at fault.
• Never float the river in a canoe you will regret it, if you survive. 
• Float the river in a canoe so you can have something to regret. Step out of your comfort zone and do things you swore you never would.  Never swear you won’t do anything, ever.
• Go to every date party no matter how lame you think the theme is. 
• Keep your best friends close. Looking back you will see how hard they tried to stay in your life and how badly you let someone else push them out.
• It is okay to stay in on weekends.
• Its ok to go out.  Not just on the weekends but any day.  Someone else’s happiness should not depend on you living in a bubble. 
• Never be afraid to stand up for yourself. People can be betches.
• There is nothing wrong with going home when you need your family. Parents are usually right and siblings are the best friends you could ever have. It’s a blessing and a shame that we can’t learn from each other’s mistakes before we make our own.
• Just because you have been Olive Oil skinny all your life doesn't mean you won't start to gain weight in your twenties if you don't watch it.
• Happiness is a choice that no one else can make for you and not being in a relationship can be the most fulfilling thing. Learning to be happy by yourself is the most important lesson you can learn.

I'm sure S. has many more things she wishes she could say to her younger self; I know I do!  What would you tell your younger self?

-G