ADVICE FOR A 14-YEAR-OLD ME

My niece will be turning 14 this week and we had her birthday party on Sunday. I initially bought her a book of advice on growing up as a woman, but then I feared it may come across as too preachy and took it back (opting instead for a shirt from Anthropologie). Anyway, it got me thinking of what advice I wish that the current me could have given to the 14-year-old me. So here are just a few things I wish that I could tell 14-year-old Melissa:

• Spend less time worrying about how you look and more time focusing on developing who you are. 

• Give people a chance. Probably the most interesting people at your school are the ones that you're ignoring because they aren't "cool" enough.

• Don't be afraid of trying new things because you are afraid that you won't be good at them. How will you ever know if you don't try?

• Focus less on what other people THINK should make you happy and much more on what ACTUALLY makes you happy.

• Stop pretending to like stuff that you don't really like because your friends do. It's a huge waste of time and energy. 

• Be nicer. Just in general, be much nicer!

• Don't be in such a hurry to grow up. Enjoy this time! 

• It's ok to make mistakes - just learn from them. Oh and try not to repeat them.

• And, finally, find something you are good at and pursue it - whatever it may be. You have your own unique talents and interests and it doesn't matter if they make sense to anyone else. 

I'm sure 14-year-old me wouldn't have appreciated it, but there you have it...