Dealing with … My 16-year-old self

I think the age of 16 is really when the memories and experiences start pilling in.

July 16, 2021

Dewald de Beer 2 minutes read

What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?

I saw this question on a friend’s Instagram story and I could not help myself but sigh, and not out of relief. It had me thinking, bringing up some good and bad memories.

I think the age of 16 is really when the memories and experiences start pilling in.

When I was 16 the word ‘humbleness’ didn’t mean a single thing to me and that carried on over the years. I had to take a few punches in the form of lessons before my head shrunk again and I was back on the ground to be a better person.

I made choices and decisions that revolved around status, just trying to fit in. I had this image in my head of what is ‘cool’ and what is ‘wack’.

Little did I know what waited for me beyond the life of the high school; I had an ego problem, putting up different masks for different people just to satisfy them and get their approval. My drive to be accepted and be ‘cool’ was more important than life goals, mental health and the people around me.

I just had to be friends with everyone, losing sight of my real friends. I had to have the prettiest girls and when I was not happy, I left, and breaking hearts that was not meant to be broken.

I had to be at the biggest parties and wear the ‘coolest’ clothes for more likes on my Facebook profile picture.

All of this left me with a big identity crisis after school. Not knowing what I want to do for a living or what I want in life. Making and losing friends week in and week out, ending up feeling alone. Falling in love and falling out of it every six months making toxic decisions, giving myself a bad idea of what love is. I was turning into a selfish person and I learned lessons the hard way.

To my selfish, ‘cool’ and lost 16-year-old self I would hug and tell him the following: Find God and you will find your loving self, make friends with people that want to see you grow and support your life-changing decisions.

Love is not a toy or something you can take for granted. Cherish your family and show respect when losing or winning.

You can not take back something after it has been said. You should listen when spoken to, you might miss something if you don’t. Spend more time taking adventurous trips than on your phone or behind the TV.

But most of all sanitize daily and keep on drinking your vitamins.

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