Seventeen Things I Learned When I Was Seventeen
one
Sometimes, there are last Christmases, last birthdays, last goodbyes.
And sometimes, you don't know that that's what they are until they've gone by.
two
You might miss the grove from which your tree was removed,
but so long as you have your roots, you have everything.
three
You can fight tooth and nail for something, and still not win.
There might not be a saving-grace miracle.
You might fail.
four
Forgive yourself.
five
The road to body positivity and self love isn't a road at all. It's a cul-de-sac.
You will go around and around, with good days and bad days.
Be patient.
six
(see #4)
seven
Maybe, in another life, you end up with that boy.
Or maybe, it's this life, 15 years from now. Either way, just do your thing,
because life has a funny way of bringing people back to each other, if it's meant to be.
It's a small world, after all.
eight
Never compromise your sense of self or your beliefs
for the sake of keeping a friendship. It is never worth it.
nine
Stop saying "I love you" when you don't mean it.
ten
No matter how difficult it is, be honest without being cruel,
and everyone involved will be better for it.
eleven
The greatest thing your father ever did for you was teach you
how to spot a toxic, manipulative narcissist.
Use this skill. It will come in handy.
twelve
You're not broken. It's not your fault.
thirteen
The weirdest thing about PTSD is the forgetting exactly what happened.
It's okay. You're coping, and you don't need to prove your trauma to anyone.
fourteen
The things that you feel are real, are. Simply because you feel them.
fifteen
You are so kind, and brave, and loyal, and smart
and strong; stronger than you know.
sixteen
Life moves on to bigger and brighter things
than your safe little high school bubble.
It's okay. Move with it.
seventeen
You are going to be okay.