August Blog Challenge Day 29

Today's challenge is to write a letter to my 18 year old self.

Dear 18-year old Andrea -

You are about to embark on a really wacky life. I'm going to give you some advice that your now much older self would like for you to know and follow just to make MY life a little easier. Okay, so technically this is actually going to be an enumerated list that you need to keep with you and check off when completed.

1. Find some vegetables that you like and eat some daily. Some that you would actually like are broccoli, if cooked correctly, carrots with hummus, celery with ranch, raw spinach in a salad with some tomatoes. Try these things they REALLY are tasty. 
2. Start an exercise routine. It doesn't have to be anything too strenuous but just walk with purpose for 45 minutes to an hour every day. It'll become a habit for you and we won't struggle to workout in our later years. 
3. When you get the feeling of worthlessness or over bearing sadness, find a counselor or friend to talk to (or call Mom). Don't go try and drown that feeling in cheesy bread and ice cream. That doesn't help. 
4. Do NOT get the second and third piercings in your ear. They aren't worth the pain and in about two years after you get them you won't ever wear an earring in them. 
5. Don't bother making that appointment with Dr. Starr. You aren't going to go into Journalism. You don't like interviewing people and you will not enjoy it. Look into the Anthropology department, you would find that interesting. 
6. Join and PARTICIPATE in more activities. Expand your social surroundings beyond the girls in the dorm, while they are a lot of fun in the moment your Freshman years ones all sort of fell away. 
7. Stay home on November 5, 1988. Just take my word for it, you do not need to go out to the club on that night. Period. 
8. Laugh more. Laugh often. Do not take life too seriously. 
9. Get a job while on campus. Invest the money you make into a savings account and don't go blowing it on a whim. We'll be much more comfortable if you start saving now. 
10. Tell your parents thank you more. They are giving you a lot by paying for your education, so show them some appreciation. 
11. Spend more time with you sister and get to know her better. Don't be such a bitch to her. You two grow up and will have to rely on one another some day, why not make that today? 

Okay, younger Andrea, that is probably enough advice. Know this, as an adult life does get better. There are challenges every day but face them head on and don't cower from them. Write your own life story and embrace it. You are special and wonderful and beautiful and goofy and the important people are going to love you for who you are so you really do not need to put on a mask to hide that. If people aren't willing to love you as you, then they aren't worth having in your life.