Dear Teenage Me

The other day, on a long hike with one of my dear sister-in-laws, we found ourselves deep in conversation. Between the crunch of gravel under our shoes and the quiet stretches of trail… who are we kidding, we ran a full marathon with our mouths. Bears didn’t dare approach us with the loud voices and laughter echoing through the trees.

We chatted about everything under the sun and, of course, The Summer I Turned Pretty. That spiraled us right into a bigger question: What would we tell our teenage selves if we could go back?

For me, the answer pulled me right back to the middle of my childhood bedroom floor. Sitting cross-legged with a cloud of Tribe perfume above me, overplucked eyebrows, Seventeen magazine spread out, Backstreet Boys on repeat, and my diary catching every embarrassing secret. Not a care in the world. Everything felt like possibility, like life was waiting with open arms.

If I could sit beside that girl again, this is what I would tell her:

Soak in the innocence

You do not get those carefree years back. One day, the weight of bills and responsibilities will tug at your shoulders, so lean into the silly giggles with your girlfriends, the long afternoons with nothing to do, the hours of music and bad TV. It is not wasted time; it is sacred.

Relationships are not like the movies

Hallmark lied. Love is not about the perfect moment in the snow with twinkly lights. It is grocery runs, mismatched schedules, arguments you work through instead of walking away from. It is building something, not just falling into it. Do not rush. Learn to love yourself first.

Friends come and go like seasons

Some last longer than others, but all serve a purpose. Do not dwell on it when a friendship ends. Be grateful for the time it lasted and the memories and lessons it gave you. Some people are only meant to walk part of the journey with you, and that is okay.

People will say things they should not

Not everything deserves your energy. Do not hold grudges. Just move on. Some things are worth your breath, but most of the time, it is not about you anyway. Free yourself from carrying the weight of someone else’s words.

Listen closer

Your parents and grandparents are not as ancient as you think. They actually know some things. You will roll your eyes, but one day you will catch yourself repeating their advice. And you will wish you had leaned in a little harder, asked one more question, lingered a little longer at the kitchen table.

Time with your siblings is fleeting

Right now, you take for granted that you all live under the same roof. Soon enough, everyone will scatter into college, jobs, marriages, and babies. So squeeze in those late-night laughs, the car rides, the ridiculous inside jokes. They matter more than you know.

Your worth is not measured by fitting in

Stop over-plucking your eyebrows just because everyone else is. Trends fade. The real glow comes when you stop contorting yourself to match everyone else’s shape and start standing solidly in your own.

Sleep and exercise are not a waste of time

They are actually crucial. The foundation of good health starts young. Do not wait to learn this the hard way. Start now with simple habits: move your body, prioritize rest. Your future self will thank you a hundred times over.

Be kind and humble

It is not just a cheesy “mom saying.” It is one of the truest life lessons you will ever learn. Treat people the way you want to be treated and stay humble, no matter where life takes you. You will thank yourself for choosing kindness over pride every single time.

Life will throw you curveballs

You cannot predict what is coming. There will be plenty of mountains and challenges to climb, and some seasons will nearly undo you with health scares, heartbreaks, and bills stacked higher than you want to admit. You will wonder if you are strong enough. You are. There are no do-overs. You cannot hit pause, rewind, or fast forward. So show up, make the best choices you can, and steer the damn ship the best you know how.

Dreams evolve, and that is okay

You will not become everything you thought you would at sixteen. Some dreams will end. Others will grow legs you did not see coming. Life does not shrink, it shifts. And the version of you that unfolds is far richer and braver than the one you are imagining right now.

Life, in the end, is a lot like that hike. Some parts feel uphill, some parts fly by, and some parts make you question why you even started. But when you have good company, good laughs, and the right snacks in your backpack, it is always worth it, even with the gigantic toe blisters.