Hello, Sweet Sixteen

Sweet Sixteen is an age which, for girls at least, is too hyped. Now that I have come past that supposedly rosy and glorious age (not so) long back, I decided to sit down and pen some valuable advice for myself of sixteen.

Hello D (at sweet sixteen),

• There’s no need to lose your sleep over class X boards; there are more difficult exams to pass in the coming years. And for god’s sake, do not take those people seriously who tell you that your life’s whole career depends on this “first most important” exam of your life.
• The same people who now call you thin and lanky because of your 24-inch waist do not know that being “size zero” will be very fashionable some years down the line. But then, you will no longer have a waist size of 24 inches. So stop fretting over how to gain some weight and relax. All the cheese that you are gobbling now will haunt you later, when you will have to work extra-hard to lose weight. Instead, start being happy with your present looks. You will never have those natural flat abs again.
• I am glad that you finally decided to come out of 16 years of tom boyishness. I still have the attitude that comes with it, but please stop looking like a boy when you are actually a girl. Bring out those skirts from the closet. And congrats for growing your hair long from ‘boy cut’. But too long a hairstyle doesn’t suit you that much; and you are spending unnecessary time taking care of the long locks. Take it from me, short hair (shoulder-length) is stylish, easy to maintain and goes with your personality.
• Please do not take up Biology in the Plus-two just because you scored one less than the State highest in the subject in Class X Boards. Harrowing times await you. You will not even end up writing the Joint Entrance Test for medicine, so why bother?
• I forbid you to mix so freely with the boys; they are total nut cases and do not understand that you are just being friendly with them. Leave those pseudo-cool dude types and instead talk to the boys you think are geeks. You will be in touch with some of the latter ones in future. And they will remain good friends too.
• People will gossip; whether you like it or not. Its of no use trying to do some damage control by clarifying your stand; you will not make sense to them. Hence, its high time you stop worrying about what others think about you. There will be times in your life when people will judge you without even knowing you, so learn how to let such things roll off your back fast. Remember: Whatever people say or do to you say a lot about them and not you.
• Stop crushing on that stupid boy. Can’t you see that he is a worthless piece of ^%*#? You will meet m-u-c-h better ones later. (Well, may be not, but that doesn’t give you the excuse to crush on absolute idiots now) Its very important that you learn to preserve your emotions and not waste them on the wrong types.
• Romance is not really as rosy as you think. It entails meeting the right kind of guy, hoping that he also feels the same for you, dating, trying to figure out whether it will work out or not – all these are components of a relationship. In case you are thinking that M&B kind of stories happen in real life, grow up! No Italian millionaire with dark, handsome looks is coming to sweep you off your feet.
• I know, right now, for you, the idea of marriage only means falling in love and getting married to the man of your dreams. But, a time will come when it will become a red signal for you to run in the opposite direction. It will only mean more responsibilities, the uncertainty about compatibility (if an arranged marriage), too many issues regarding sharing (if a love marriage), herculean task of juggling professional life with a married life etc etc. Basically, the term will lose all its charm, the moment (distant relatives think) you are of marriageable age. So, dream on, and be happy as long as the dream lasts 🙂
• Preserve the worthy friendships. You will be surprised to know how rare friends will become later. So, don’t take the ones you have now for granted.

Love, D (at a more matured age with wisdom that comes with time)

P.S. I am glad that nobody gave you these advice when you were sixteen and you made all the mistakes and learnt the hard way to become who you are at the present age.   🙂 Life, after all, is the biggest teacher.

P.P.S. I just wanted to sound wise. But did I end up sounding old ? 😦