Things I wish I would have known at 16
1.) Rachel, stop being such a brat to your mom (I'm being nice and not using the other "B" word). Cut that crap out! Seriously, you treat your friends better than your mom. Did you friends carry you inside their belly for 9 grueling months? No, YOUR MOM DID! That'd be creepy and weird if your friends did...but you get my point! Do you have any idea how much discomfort and pain your mom went through to have you?! (Well 24-year-old Rachel now knows, hehe). This woman would give her LIFE for you. You get annoyed when "she acts like she knows everything"? She knows a heck of a lot more than YOU! It's called experience you teenager brat. One day, she is going to be your go-to gal, best friend, and soul sister. Stop being such a turd or she will remind you years later how big of one you use to be! 2.) Rachel, texting while driving is not cool. Looking at your phone while driving - period - is so stupid! You do not have to be stimulated every single second of the day. Listen to some darn music, think some intelligent thoughts and be okay with a little silence. Do you know how many people you put in harm's way because you can't stay off your phone? Pregnant women driving Entire families in one car driving Someone's child, their "baby", is driving right in front of you Can what you have to say really not wait? Is it worth potentially hurting, or even worse, killing someone because you want to let a friend know "on my way"? Not worth it. Stop thinking of yourself and start thinking of all the other precious lives out on the road. 3.) Rachel, stop taking everything so personally. Hurt people, hurt people. Don't forget that. Nothing other people do is usually because of you. It is because of themselves. Instead of getting butthurt so easily and lashing back, reach out and ask if they are okay? Be a friend and be a person they can talk to. Something you struggle with is realizing that not everything is done to hurt YOU purposely. When someone is unkind towards you, they are giving you a glimpse of the pain they carry in themselves. 4.) Rachel, take that shiny new license you got and put it to good use. Go visit your grandparents who [...]