Dear Dr. Laura,
What would I tell a twenty year old? I would tell them that youth is fleeting so don't be so hard on yourself and enjoy your own special uniqueness.
Enjoy the fact that you have time on your side and don't try to do everything at once. Being young is such a short period within a lifetime don't wreck it by driving when you are under any influence, or talking on a cell phone, etc. It takes only one mistake like that to end a potentially great life.
Be kind to the older generation, they were your age once and most of us still remember that time clearly. Yes, we wish someone had told us to savor our young years instead of worrying about what our friends thought of us or that we didn't measure up to someone else's standards. Remember you will be an adult for most of your life with all the responsibilities that brings. So enjoy the freedom of being responsible only to yourself, most of your life you will have responsibilities for others, and that's good too. Make real friends and keep them for life, because they will be able to share all your youthful memories with you when you are older. They knew you when you were just forming and becoming the adult that you are now. You will be able to share stories that you both experienced and have great laughs. A very wise person told me years ago that if you had as many friends as the fingers on one hand then you are truly rich. Now I know what she meant. You accept yourself as good enough no matter how old you get, and that's a freedom that isn't there for the very young. The biggest plus is when you do get older you will be gifted with a knowledge that you don't have yet.
So enjoy your youth and realize that every age has it benefits and don't miss out on anything. The best is yet to come!
Elaine
