If I could sit down with my teenage self, I would tell them one simple truth: Everything is going to be okay. No matter how overwhelming things feel right now, it will all work out in the end. The worries, the doubts, the uncertainty—they won’t last forever.

One of the biggest lessons I wish I had learned sooner is to speak about how I feel instead of bottling everything up inside. Keeping emotions locked away doesn’t make them disappear; it only makes them heavier. It’s okay to say, “I’m not happy.” It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to let people in. You don’t have to carry everything alone.

Confidence doesn’t come overnight, but I wish I had the courage back then to stand up and say, “I am enough.” No need for approval, no need to fit into someone else’s expectations—just knowing that I am worthy as I am.

And perhaps one of the most important things: learn to say “no” more often. Not out of rudeness, but out of self-respect. You don’t have to please everyone. You don’t have to agree to things that make you uncomfortable. Setting boundaries isn’t selfish; it’s necessary.

So to my teenage self: Be kind to yourself. Life will have its ups and downs, but you are stronger than you think. Speak your truth, hold your head high, and never forget—you are enough.

Daily writing prompt

What advice would you give to your teenage self?

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