By [Chloe Wingerter ’15] [Guest Writer]

You may roll your eyes as you read this. You may think I’m an “uncool” mom. I will most likely embarrass you in front of your hip friends. Yet, I still write this to you in hopes that you find some truth in it. It is this truth that will remind you each and everyday of your infinite worth. However take my advice with a grain of salt; through your own experiences, and inevitable mistakes, you will come to learn these things on your own too. In the meantime, simply keep being the best version of yourself and enjoy the ride.

1.) Don’t exercise for that dress, that guy, or that swimsuit season. Exercise for yourself. The whole point of exercising is to feel strong, confident, and beautiful no matter what pant size you are. Exercise so you can bag those peaks, bike those mountains, climb those boulders, get your mojo on in downward dog, run those marathons. And, please please please, don’t exercise for lulu lemon.

2.) Travel. There is so much more out there than the bubble you currently exist in. Talk to the interesting fellow with the crooked smile. Break bread over broken English. Come home broke, dirty, and tired, but with a good story. (But always have a side of caution…not everyone you meet will be a character out of Eat, Pray, Love)

3.) When in doubt, always always follow your gut. You will come across situations where your head is seemingly telling you the “right” choice, while your heart is constantly reminding you of the “honest” choice. At first, choosing your gut instinct may feel like you are falling through the cracks and disappointing those who love you. Yet, in the end, when you get that warm fuzzy feeling from being in the right place, you know the worth in following the “honest” choice. Follow your heart…it never fails.

4.) Be yourself, down to the very root of it. Life gets pretty confusing as it is, trying to go through it as someone else just doesn’t make sense. Imperfections, flaws, quirks, weirdness make you who you are. Embrace it.

5.) You don’t ever have to do something that you don’t want to do. If you’re not ready, you’re not ready. It’s your life, you get to make the decisions. It’s the simplest concept, don’t overthink it. Simple as that.

6.) Eat that second piece of pizza. Bake those pumpkin muffins. At the same time, remember that what you put into your body is what fuels you. Kale, quinoa, and chia seeds may not be “trendy” anymore, but fresh fruits and vegetables will never go out of style.

7.) Intelligence, confidence, and originality can’t be beat. Don’t think being “sexy” is a high-heeled pair of shoes and a tiny waist. Rather, a sense of humor, a quick-witted comeback, a yearning for adventure, and an appetite for good music, books, and conversation will be undeniably 10x more attractive.

8.) It’s good to be independent, but it is also good to let people in. Find the balance.

9.) Jump in the water. When you are 65, you won’t remember the day that you sat on the sidelines because you’re thighs touched or because the water was too cold. However, you will remember the day you skipped classes to go hiking to catch fall foliage at its finest. Routine, normalcy, order can creep up on us all. Introduce a little spontaneity into the everyday life. Just jump in.

10.) Your group of friends won’t be like an episode of Friends. You won’t grab coffee with them everyday to laugh over life’s absurdities. Relationships take time, patience, and commitment. Some people will have no interest in being your friend, don’t take it personally. Those that will matter in your life will come into your life, and stay.

11.) Lastly, your life is not measured by your GPA or resume or countless internships. Your life is measured by the amount of sunrises you’ve seen, the countries you’ve traveled to, the meals that have lasted hours, the number of times your abs hurt from laughing. Live the depth of your life, not just the length. It’s your story, make sure you enjoy reading it.

One more thing…

12.) Wear your retainers. You may have a lisp for a while in high school, but your bank account and smile will thank you later in a few years.