Dear __________,

First things first, I am definitely not someone thrice your age trying to educate you on what you should be doing with your life instead of what you are doing. I’m 16 years old, basically another photocopy of you, along with the millions of other teenagers in our generation. I am the same person as you, I have grown up through the same time period, been through the same horrific phases (let’s try to block out Middle School), and I am enduring several of the things you’d like to think is exclusively your own problem. I retweet the same things as you on Twitter- that vine song about why the f— you’re lying? I’ve seen it. And watched it the same amount of times you have, I’m not even ashamed to admit it. Would you like to watch it again?

 

 

Anyways, I stalk the same amount of people you do on Instagram and spend hours trying to pick the next picture to post that would make my feed look even better. I, just like you, spend a good part of my time pining over what I can’t have. And yes, I do follow fitness accounts on Instagram, telling myself I’ll get motivation, when in reality, the only thing those accounts do for me is mess up my following ratio.

But enough of that, I need to tell you what I am not. I’ll get right into it- I am not someone who will lie to myself and say that I don’t care what other people think of me, because I do. I care a hell of a lot and it’s a price of being human- you’re constantly at risk of public humiliation, unless you play your cards right. A little tip for you: laugh at yourself every time you do something embarrassing. This morning, I tried to sit down in my seat in class and missed because the chair rolled back as I was about to sit down. I probably sat there for a good five minutes and laughed at myself, and the class wasn’t laughing at me, they were laughing with me. And I know that phrase sounds like something a parent would tell a 4-year-old, but it turns out that they’re right. The chances are that if you’re a good sport about something, they won’t ridicule you. The other way around of the situation applies for this situation as well, of course I’m guilty of doing some things to impress someone else, we all are. But I will never, and I repeat never, change the way I am for the attention of someone who doesn’t deserve me if they can’t be happy with the real me. I will never let someone stomp all over my opinion and I will never give up my morals to make someone else happy. And this is something our generation needs to learn- there is nothing wrong with each other. We are all unique by default and if you change yourself just to be like someone else, you’re basically ruining the purity of being yourself.

 

And this is exactly what I’m talking about. You’re unique, and if someone doesn’t like you for the person you are, why do you still want their attention? Chances are that you won’t like that person’s personality either.

So this has been sufficiently deep, I guess what I’m trying to say is not to worry about others when you’re trying to live your life. Life isn’t a rickety bridge above hot, bubbling lava; it’s not so serious. We all make mistakes, they don’t define who we are. It’s the oldest saying in the book, but I’m not (fucking) lying when I say it’s true.

On the other hand, don’t take it too lightly either; when you need help, go out and get it. I’m learning as I write this letter- sitting around and waiting for other people to come to you is the worst possible thing you can do because how are others supposed to know what’s wrong if you don’t tell them? Basically, don’t sit around and subtweet your life away, waiting for that one person to text you. If you want someone to text you, make the first move. Simple as that. *Remember that I’m not an adult advising you on these things, I’m your age. I wouldn’t tell you to do these things if I didn’t know exactly what you’re worried about.

Take this example:

 

 

Okay, I’m a hypocrite commenting on this tweet because I do it literally all the time, but trust me, I’ve gotten into arguments on a much larger scale just because I added fuel to the fire and subtweeted. Don’t do it.

And some more random tips you may want to follow in life:

 

1. You are not too good for anything, and the cold, hard truth is that if you have that kind of mentality, chances are that “anything” is too good for you.
2. Focus on yourself before you focus on others.
3. You have no right to judge others if you don’t know them as well as you know yourself. Put yourself in the same hypothetical situation- what would you have done, really? Don’t lie to yourself.
4. Don’t talk about the future, or you won’t actually reach there.
5. Be happy, or you will regret it later down the road.
6. You will never get these precious moments ever again, so use your time wisely.

 

So this is directed towards every single one of you who can relate to this, and you may be muttering “hypocrite” towards me under your breath right now because I do basically everything I just told you not to do. But I’m working towards a better me, and it would benefit you to do so as well.

 

Sincerely,

Your Generational Photocopy