If I had known then

To my 10 year old self,

Hi. By now I have lived a lot longer than you so I know a lot more than you do( I am giving you only 5 seconds to roll your eyes). I am not your mother so I can tell you things directly and hopefully you will listen to me.

You are an intelligent, beautiful girl. You will soon realise that it's both your curse and your blessing. Unfortunately, you may not be able to control either but where it is a blessing, use it to the best of your ability ...where it is your curse, well, we will cross that bridge and burn it when we get to it.

Men are still abit eeew! right now. Shockingly you will get to like them, love them, hate them and then want to burn them. Do not freak out. You are not the same.They are not the same either. Men are not all bad, they may all be idiots, but they are not all bad. It's just a genetic pre-disposition so just take the good and the bad and make the best out of every situation. Shockingly again, they is alot to learn from them. Remember that which does not kill you, makes you strong enough to kill it.

Everyone eventually picks up a drug of choice. Some choose religion, some choose men, some choose career and well some choose actual drugs. If you choose religion. let it be One True God, if it be a man, let it be your one true love, if it be career, let it be your one true passion......if it be politics, there you're on your own. But each drug has its own dangers so choose wisely. If you however try them all as you very well might, just remember, cocaine's a hell of a drug.

Listen to the folks. They may be old and most times they sound like they are losing their minds but no one will ever believe in you as much as those two. You will eventually reach an understanding so just wait out the teenage storm. They taught you a very important lesson. Everything in moderation. Never ever forget it because it will be your saving grace. Use your money in moderation, speak in moderation, indulge in moderation and eat your vegetables and fruits..... in moderation.

Finally, don't forget you only have one life to live. Don't go denying yourself the few joys that life throws your way. Don't repeat over and over something that you will live to regret. No matter how great it is. Try and keep yourself warm. The cold weather has a bone to pick with you. Disease will plague you during the cold season like a bad smell. There is no one else in the world like you so let no one tell you otherwise. Try your best to live a dignified life. Mistakes will be made so don't sweat the small stuff. It will put you in hospital with white people's diseases.

Live life, love hard, laugh loud.

Take care,
Love...me!