Stop being a people pleaser. Pain does not need company.
Do not play with hearts just because you think it’s harmless.
Regret won’t rewrite the past. Mistakes don’t justify suffering.
You do not deserve to hurt.

Do not trap yourself in an echo chamber of pain.
Stop oversharing to those who cannot help,
but don’t bite your tongue—there’s a time and place for truth.
If you see someone suffering, reach out.
You cannot carry their pain, but don’t let them bear it alone.

Stop cutting. The scars won’t last, but the regret will linger.
Stop picking at your skin. Those wounds will overstay their welcome.
You don’t have blemishes, so stop creating them.
Pain when walking is not normal. Your feet will fail you.
Do not apologize. It is not your fault.

Depression will haunt you. Your bed will be a black hole.
You do not have to suffer in silence.
Clean out your room.
Old things people have given you do not die when you let them go.
You do not need them burdening you.
Stop trying to leave this world. Mom will fight for you,
keep you out of the hospital. Trust her.
Stop numbing sleepless nights with Benadryl.
Tell someone. Cry. Cry until you can water all your plants.
Cry over the stupidest things and laugh about it later.

Keep writing poetry—it will be your refuge, your truth.
Revise until your words tell the story you want.
Share them. Others will see your perspective.

Your teacher’s harshness is wisdom in disguise. Listen.
Tease back. It is not the end of the world, nor a sign of something deeper.
Speak up in class—you are smart,
and your voice deserves to be heard.
Your grades are not life or death. Breathe.

Dress in dark tones if they comfort you.
Be cringe. Watch your cartoons, love your art,
wear your makeup, chase your dreams.
Let your inner child be free.
The people around you now will be kinder than those in the future.
Let the remnants of the pick-me girl you once were burn with the opinions of others.

Do not pour yourself into friendships just because you see their pain.
You cannot heal them all. Let them go.
You do not need to be friends with everyone.
Hold on to the ones who truly see you.
Stop lying—to yourself, to anyone.
Set boundaries. Stand by them.

More people liked you than you realized.
But do not give your heart away just because they see you.
You have love to give without obligation.
They will not push you away.

Stop falling for him. He will want your body.
You will want something deeper.
Not because he doesn’t love you,
but because you are still healing.
Nothing is wrong with you because intimacy feels foreign.
You’ve been through too much, and it has closed that door for now.
Let go before it breaks you both.
You will lose something worth more than the romance you desire.

Be the anchor for the reckless girl,
but do not let her sink your ship.
She does not own your heart just because you once considered it.
Don’t kiss her.
She won’t end her life at that dance.
She’s just envious that your heart belongs to another.
Let go. It is not worth it.

Stop telling your father things he will not understand.
The distance will grow, but your truth remains yours.

Stop making promises you cannot keep.
Do not avoid people out of guilt.
Things change. They will understand.
Stop lying.
It doesn’t spare pain, only delays it.

Speak up.
Choose what you want for your project.
You are not letting your family down.
It will bring joy that lasts.

Take risks. Courage will unlock doors
that once felt impossible to open.
People trust you. Lead them with the same morals you should practice.
Go for the role in the play—it will awaken your love for acting early.
The thrill of an audience is a friendly thing.
Do not compare yourself. Keep singing. You are beautiful.
Know your worth. Care for yourself first.

The girl who shares your struggles will be your salvation.
Spend time with her. Listen. Help each other heal.
Cherish the math class buddy and the boy who suffers silently.
Acknowledge them. They will change your life.

Savor the 8th-grade trip.
When overwhelmed, reach out.
Do not lock yourself away in that bathroom.
Focus on the fun, not the time you have left to enjoy it.
It will be the last memory where happiness feels untainted.
Laugh too much. Stay up too late.
Have a thousand sleepovers. Bask in every fleeting moment.

And most of all—learn to love yourself.

-If only I had known.