Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me

Your worth as a person is not tied to your attractiveness.

Learn the difference between being lonely and being alone.

Boundaries are not meant to be broken or stepped on. They are meant to be respected.

You are never too old to learn a new hobby, read that one book, go back to school, still like that one band, or wear those clothes.

There's always going to be someone who hates you. That's okay. There are probably people you hate too.

Your opinions are just as valuable as those of others, even if others are more 'educated' on the topic.

It's better to have a few friends who are always there for you than many friends you can never reach.

There will be plenty of people who think you are too intense, too extreme, and too opinionated. But there are also going to be plenty of people who will admire those same qualities and look up to you. There probably was a time in your life when you were too scared to speak up too.

Hungry pigs can and will eat humans.

You are not a bad person for cutting people out of your life when they continuously hurt you, even if those people are suffering, ill, or lonely.

You don't have to accept every apology. It's okay to stay angry. You don't have to forgive and forget.

Self-care is about more than wearing face masks and smelling scented candles. It's about prioritizing your well-being, staying in when you need to, and reaching out to people who make you feel good.

The people who hurt you will meet someone who's even worse. It's not going to be you though, because you will be too busy leveling up.

Your first painting/clay sculpture/workout isn't going to be perfect. Picking up new skills takes time. Perfecting them takes even longer.

Who cares if the colors of your clothes don't match, or if that coat is 'so out of season', or if you don't have the right body type/you're too heavy/too thin/not muscular enough, or if mEn DoN't LiKe ThOsE kInDs OF cLoThEs? If you like it and it makes you feel good, wear it.

Being confident does not equal being arrogant. You can never be too confident.

Tell your friends when they make bad decisions. If they never listen to your advice, you're better off without them.

Similarly, you're also better off without friends who never tell you when you're making bad decisions.

The healthiest way to live is to find a balance between nurturing your mind, nurturing your soul, and nurturing your body. Don't starve one to feed the other.

You shouldn't be begging others to treat you with kindness.

Love is an important emotion. You love your mom, you love your best friend, you love your cat, you love looking at the stars at night, you love feeling the sun on your face on a spring afternoon when you're cycling through the park near your house. You love plenty. Don't feel like there's something wrong with you just because you've never loved someone romantically.