#4 out of 30

List 10 things that you would tell your 16 year old self.

.... Only 10? Because I'm pretty sure I could give 16 year old Shannon at least a 4 hour lecture. ;) And she would have needed it. 

Teenagers. (insert eye roll)

I'll try to limit this for your sakes... I already know what I'd chew myself out for. :p

1- Boys. Are. Not. Worth. It. Got it? The drama and the feeling bad about yourself if one doesn't like you back, and the changing yourself to make someone like you stuff is garbage. Boys are just boys. 

2- That being said, date lots! Don't tie yourself down. Yeah, you'll have your favorites, but it's much more fun if you go on lots of dates with lots of people! 20 year old Shannon can attest to that. Just trust her. Plus you'll ruin fewer friendships and save yourself embarrassment when you run into people after high school.

3- Be nice to your sisters. Yup, they're sisters and yup you guys drive each other nutsy sometimes, but you'll be good friends later I promise. So be nice so you don't have to feel bad that their memories of you are few and far between. 

4- See yourself for who you are! You're not a total loser, and you can totally make friends. No those groups of girls that you'd like to hang out with aren't too popular for you. They probably even like you more than you think. And those nice boys that you don't dare ask to dances? Just ask them. They're nice boys, and you would have had fun!

5- Please stop driving like a maniac. Mom and dad's insurance hates it. And you're going to get after your husband for driving just like you drove then. Thou hypocrite. ;)

6- Please take better care of yourself. I know you're not overweight or anything, but healthy habits are not your forte in the future. And I'm sure being pregnant would be a little easier if you were a healthy individual... so. Ya know. Help a sister out.

7- Ya know how much you love dad's and Brother Jones' seminary classes? Enjoy them. Because institute is still awesome later in life, but when you're the only married pregnant student it's definitely a different experience. Take advantage and soak it up now! It'll help you later on, I promise.

8- Remember how you cut your hair and hated it? In the future when it's late at night and your roommates tell you it was so cute short and you should cut it again... please take a day or two to pray and ponder before you just chop it all off again. You hate it again the second time. Just stick with mediumish long hair. It works better.

9- When you think you know everything, and that mom and dad are just being obnoxious? Knock it off and listen to them. They actually know things and if you do what they're suggesting it makes life much easier for you. They're not telling you stuff just to make you miserable, they want to help you skip over the unnecessary frustrations.

10- Be nice to yourself. You're a silly teenager and you make silly decisions sometimes, and you think some situations are life and death when they're really not. You're doing better than you give yourself credit for. So give yourself a break, smile and just like yourself. Ok? Great.