I Live By This

You're going to be 16 for only 365 days.

And you could die at 17.

When your mom asks if you want to sleep in her bed, say yes.

One day, she'll be in a hospital bed and there won't be enough room to make up for right now.

Stop cancelling plans;

Go out and use your legs while they work.

You're guaranteed nothing.

Stop denying affection.

You'll never be able to love someone as a teenager at 35.

Someone, many someones, are going to tell you they love you.

Don't keep quiet because you've been told it's too soon.

If you love them, say so.

Be brutally, beautifully honest.

Go out and change the world.

Fight for peace, equality and change.

When you're 70 and can only watch the news all day you don't want to see the same issues still going on when you had every time to fight it.

Stop romanticizing the "I don't need anybody" and "I don't have feelings" attitude.

It's easier to make friends in high school than in nursing homes.

Embrace feelings and intimacy.

Don't apologize for caring and don't let anybody make you feel guilty for caring even if it's one sided.

You're only a teenager for 2,555 days and then you're 20.

Life never slows down.

Bones become fragile and break.

People die.

And hearts become weak.

With every atom in your body, LIVE RIGHT NOW.

Take a moment, take a deep breath, and let this sink in. You are loved! <3

@juliusdiam