Message to my younger self

1.     When someone tells you that you are among the most <insert adjective here> people they have met, believe them. They are not just being nice.

2.     Do not worry about disappointing your parents. You inherited their genes, so chances are your non-conformist ideas are not all that whacky to them. They might cheer lead you into them. Or not. If not, that's fine too. They are more resilient than you think. 

3.     You are allowed to have opinions, not everything is good or bad.

4.     You are inquisitive by nature, question everything. And wait for the explanation. Judge, but after you listen to the explanation.

5.     Express disapproval. Do not make excuses for the other person. Do not just shut up and then resent it afterward. 

6.     Express disappointment. Invite dialogue. Be willing to challenge your assumptions.

7.     Do not diminish yourself to make others feel better about themselves. Be your whole self. 

8.     Your friends are your tribe. Love your friends fiercely. Let them know it. Be weird about it. 

9.     On that note, be weird. You are weird anyway, and others can see it, so own it. And stay weird. 

10.  You are not perfect, but guess what, you don't need to be. You are you, faults and all, and that's okay. Your tribe knows, and they love you anyway. Maybe you should join your tribe. 

11.  You have some serious faults, and you will be toxic to some people. Be better. (seriously, there is no excuse to being toxic)

12.  Do not bother about being nice. Be kind, but not nice. Do not try to mask judgement with niceness. It's fake anyway. At least you get to face the consequences of being judgy.

(to be continued..)

 

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