Hey, Old Me

The other day, my bestest friend Chyna lost all the pictures off of her I-Pad. This led her to start looking though all her old photos. She sent me some of these hidden gems. Which included a few pictures of us from junior high and high school. When I see that young girl smiling back at me thinking that she is so smart and so cool, I think of all the things I wish I had really known then as opposed to what I thought I knew.

I am not one of those people who says, "I wouldn't change a thing because all of those things- big and small- made me who I am today." Horse manure. I don't subscribe to that at all. There are lots of things that I would change if I could talk to that girl. The only problem is that I know her well enough to know that she wouldn't listen.

I would, however, tell her a few essentials none the less.

1. Stay away from guys named Jason. I am not saying that there are not good ones. I am saying that I don't attract them. Janaan + Jason = DRAMA and Heartbreak! Just don't do it. Junior high Jason was not that big of a deal, but when you meet High School Jason, RUN. If you don't run the first day, then run the minute he lies and says that he did not call you because he got bit in the face by a dog. It only gets worse from there. Trust me. College Jason means well, but he is a mess and will only bring out the messy parts of you. He does, however, make you laugh and should be considered for a position in the "Friend Zone".
2. Enjoy those flat abs while you have them. Take lots of pictures and wear all the 90's midriff barring shirts you can because after 2 kids and passing into your 30's you will miss them and look back fondly on the days when your stomach stopped moving when you did.
3. Go to the doctor. That weird feeling in your stomach is not normal and has nothing to do with your cycle. Look it up and get me some help before when end up on steroids and lose the abs.
4. Try harder and stop being so easily embarrassed. You are smart and that is not something  to be ashamed of. Stop talking to people who feel threatened by intelligence and potential. Most importantly, stop dating them. Like the guy who stole your id card after he got kicked out in the hopes that you would cut school with him. (Yeah, I still remember him. Leave him alone before he asks you to pay his court fees.) Your real friends will love and support you.
5. Keep trying. You did a really good job fighting off most of the peer pressure. I was especially impressed by your saying no to drugs and alcohol. You did not always graduate with honors, but you graduated. You are going to hate your first MA program, but I think you should go anyway. It ends well. You are not going to be famous, but you will thank me for that later when you see how much different "The Real World" becomes and your refusal to become a stripper or worse. (I am glad we did not listen to James about that one.)

Even as I am typing, I am flooded with all these memories and little nuggets of wisdom. Like, it is really ironic and not okay to steal fancy paper from Kinko's for the Criminal Justice Honor Society induction ceremony. You are never going to cook in college, so just leave all that crap in the box. Tattoos really are permanent and that means FOREVER. Don't go home with strangers, no matter how cute he is and good job avoiding that kidnapper.

Most importantly I want to encourage her. I want her to know that she is much prettier than she gives herself credit for and much stronger than anyone around her knows. She is a good friend and is in store for lots of really REALLY good times. I want her to enjoy and not worry so much because everything will work out just right.

Lastly, make sure you talk to that hot guy on the train (you will know who I am talking about the moment you see him). He turns out to be PERFECT and the key to your Happily Ever After!