What I Wish I Knew At Age 16

Here's everything everyone wish they knew at the age of 16. The number next to it indicates the age the author wrote it at.

Hey 16 year old, If life doesn't make sense sometimes, write your emotions down in a private diary, either on an actual diary or an app diary/journal (which can come with locks.) No need to make it look perfect, or use correct grammar. Just write.

Hey 16 year old, When forming a sense of identity around this age, it's helpful to make sure you're not trying to conform to a stereotype. Try to list stereotypical labels on yourself, and ask if that's really the real you.

Hey 16 year old, As much as popular culture makes it to be, the interests of teenage girls aren't shallow and the idea that teenage girls are all stupid is just a stereotype. Whether you're a guy or girl, it's important to know that teenage girls can be smart too.

Hey 16 year old, You're free to use the internet, of course (I'm not THAT strict), but remember with every post, you can potentially embarrass yourself for years to come. Some adults have learned this the hard way. Think before posting.

Hey 16 year old, You're more than what people your age, especially romantic interests, think of you. Your worth is not defined by how many people are attracted to you, or how popular you are in your social life.

Hey 16 year old, Be careful on trusting mental health information from social media that can make things worse. If you're going to look online, at least find an article, podcast or video by a professional of some kind.

Hey 16 year old, As you meet new people, notice if people say one thing, and their actions do something else. Actions speak louder than words when it comes to deciding who to trust, even if everyone else seems to trust them.

Hey 16 year old, Be extra cautious of people who make drama out of petty stuff like someone's appearance, someone's fashion style, taste in music, taste in TV shows, or stuff like what team of athletes they support. Those people tend to be insane.

Hey 16 year old, People who say people who speak for equality are overly offended often tend to be the most easily offended themselves. If they poke fun against others, others slightly raise their voice. If you poke fun at them, they throw a screaming tantrum.

Hey 16 year old, Do not date simply because you feel pressured to have a boyfriend / girlfriend, and to not be single. All you're going to do is break the heart of the person if you're dating to impress others that you have a date, honestly.

Hey 16 year old, Being sassy in a good way involves being able to defend yourself or others from genuine threats. Being sassy in a bad way involves causing drama over the most petty things, and calling yourself a queen/king for it.

Hey 16 year old, If you can't do something for school or a chore, at least begin with at least 2 minutes of it. Often once you get two minutes rolling, the hard part of starting gets done, and it becomes easier to just continue.

Hey 16 year old, If you're stressed, remember to lean into the power of music, and find the type of music that makes your heart sing. It's okay to keep some favorites, but be open to new genres and types of music too.

Hey 16 year old, In conflicts in life, it's not always the one who is shouting the loudest and angriest that is right. Though at the same time, sometimes people are manipulated to become very emotional to look wrong when it was planned this way.

Hey 16 year old, Romantic movies and TV shows tend to be highly unrealistic and teach bad dating advice. If you're looking for love, just know that the answer is definitely not going to be from whatever you've watched or even read in novels. (Read bad reviews!)

Hey 16 year old, Learn to recognize the small wins. It's easier to be motivated for what you want to do if you focus on the small steps accomplished along the way, rather than just the big gains. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.

Hey 16 year old, Doing something is better than doing nothing at all. Can't eat completely healthy meals all the time? Just eat one vegetable each day as a side dish. Can't take a run outside for 30 minutes? Just take a run for 5 minutes. At least try.

Hey 16 year old, In high school, mean people can be the unpopular ones just as much as the popular ones, and popular ones can be just as nice as some unpopular ones. Unlike what teen movies portray, your status in High School doesn't predict character.

Hey 16 year old, It's good to have extra curricular activates, but know that too many at a time is not good for your health or sanity. It's not worth it to sacrifice your happiness for endless work. If not now, it's a lesson you have to learn as an adult.

Hey 16 year old, If you want to lose weight or gain muscle, consider asking a professional or at least listening to professional content online, instead of following random health trends on social media. Don't be so naïve to trust anything you read online.

Hey 16 year old, Pay attention to the things that make you happy, excited or passionate, and do more of that in your life. It doesn't have to necessarily be something popular or something most people like, as long as you enjoy it. Be unique.

Hey 16 year old, When it comes to talent, know that there are likely people who envy you as much as there are people you envy in life. There are things you have and can do, that others lack, just as much as there are things others have that you lack.

Hey 16 year old, Sometimes you can't wait until you feel like you have no fear at all to act. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Bravery is not the absence of fear, but acting despite the fear.

Hey 16 year old, Mere bare me batao

Hey 16 year old, If you're worried about something, think about the worst case scenario that could happen. Even if it happened, is there nothing you can do about it? Ask, if it happened, what can you still do about it? It doesn't mean you become helpless.

Hey 16 year old, If things seem confusing, learn to sit back, pause and observe. Think a bit more like a detective. What details can you notice around you with all your 5 senses? What nuance is in this situation? How would you describe the situation like an observer?

Hey 16 year old, Do not choose a future career based on what looks easiest, but what would you stick to even if it is hard. What are you willing to work for even if it is difficult? Every career is hard in some way, so keep this in mind.

Hey 16 year old, You don't have to make every decision fast, especially when others pressure you to make a decision fast. Often most of the time, when others pressure you to make it fast, they want you to choose what they want for you.

Hey 16 year old, The small ways you do good makes a difference. Often positivity and kindness happens in a chain reaction. One act of kindness can inspire another to be kind, which inspires the next person in the chain to be kind, and so on. You never know.

Hey 16 year old, If you think you're a bad person, know that bad people don't worry if they're a bad person. They don't get guilty. A monster would not even have a conscience. A bad person wouldn't question their perception of themselves at all.