Sixteen Going on Seventeen

I recently turned 17. Scary, I know.

I've learnt so much, and changed so much as a person in this last year. Transferring into adulthood is like taking off your awkward teenage shoes and sliding into oversized adult heels. It's realising how screwed up the world is, and how much you want it to change. It's learning to adapt and grow, and step out on your own. It's having faith in yourself, and not relying on anyone else to get you to the finish line.

It's a terrifying thought to me, growing older, but it's necessary. Time doesn't wait for anyone. The clock keeps ticking despite our best efforts to slow it down, or even reverse it. I've felt overcome with intense joy and drowned by overpowering sadness, but through it I've learnt that tomorrow is another day. That life goes on and that (like John Green talks about) teenagers have this incredible ability to bend but not break.

I've always felt like teenagers years are the best ones. From an outside view when I was a child, they were surrounded by this glorious, sparkly haze. They glistened like gods, and I was in awe. As Lorde put it recently "I knew they knew something children didn't know, and adults ended up forgetting." It's the uncertain years of suburban delights and blood orange sunsets. Of losing yourself and finding yourself. Of feeling my heart ooze an array of colours, every emotion under the sun, so raw, so real. Of getting a bitter-sweet taste of adulthood, and savouring the soft, sweet flavour of innocence. And I truly feel as though I'm in the midst of it now. This prime where the world is our oyster, and that false bravado surfaces that carries us through the tough times. It's the time of mortality and oblivion sinking its sharp teeth into our pink flesh, trickling it's venom into our veins that paralysed adults in mundanity. Of being drunk on love and hungover on hatred. But mostly, about living life.

There are some things I wish that someone had told me, but don't we all have to learn for ourselves? Here are some of those things I have learnt in my 16th year:

1. How to Love Unconditionally

I learnt to never be scared of loving someone with all your heart. Never be scared of how much it will hurt when you have to let them go, because all the wonderful memories will outweigh the sad goodbye. As Winnie the Pooh put it "How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

2. Do You

In this day and age, there is this enormous amount of pressure from the glitz and glamour of society that tells us we need to be someone. But truly, who gives a damn. One you leave high school and the bubble bursts, you'll realise that the cliché's, cliques and groups you so desperately wanted to fit in with, don't matter a tiny bit. I recommend taking onboard the attitude of "this is the real me, and if you don't like me like this, well it ain't my problem". You'll find those true friends who treasure you as you are. The good and bad. You'll realise that it feels so much better for being loved for who you truly are.

3. Live for Today

As blunt as it sounds, we could die tomorrow, hell even today. Treasure each day as though it's your last. We don't want to be diagnosed with a life threatening illness before we wake from this sedated dream where everything is a "I'll do it one day", and God knows that day will never come. So live for today, be true to yourself, and love with all your heart.

I x