1. Play
Find ways to play and imagine every day, even if you have no toys to play with. Know that a stick can become a magic wand when needed. But if you do get new toys, learn to read the instructions before putting them together (even if you don’t follow the directions.)
2. Pursue happiness
Don’t worry about your future and don’t criticize yourself for things you have or haven’t done. Your choices are half chance and so is everyone else’s. To combat worrying, try and do one thing every day that scares you. Whether it’s climbing a tree, standing up for your-self or jumping in the deep end at the swimming pool. Remember what other people think of you is not who you are. Dream, but don’t daydream too often.
3. Gain confidence
Try everything once. Keep calm even when everyone else is losing their head and blaming the problem on you. Learn to trust yourself, even when everyone else doubts your abilities, but also listen to their doubts. Get to know all your strength and weaknesses. Test all of your weakness until they are strengths. Keep a journal of your young life and take up hobbies that will help you grow as a person.
4. Sing and dance
Even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own home or the shower. If you can’t sing or dance, learn to play an instrument and if that doesn’t work learn another – eventually you might get lucky. Last resort, is learn to whistle.
5. Take your time
Wait but try hard not to get tired of waiting. Watch a sun set and a sun rise and spend some quality time trying to get to know your-self. On journeys, take a book but break for conversation. Know that if it is worth while it will take time. Martial Arts or jigsaws should teach you some kind of self-control.
6. Keep up your Schooling
Work hard to bridge the gaps in education, because the older you get, the more difficult it is to relearn what you have forgotten from when you were young. Read the classics, they will help you understand life’s twists and turns. Explore your artistic side, even if you have no talent whatsoever.
7. Learn to Stand
Hold on even when there seems to be nothing left, you never know what’s just around the corner or over the next hill. Learn that you should never be treated as anything less than you deserve. Take risks but don’t say a word about what you have won or lost and start again if you have to. Play cards and darts but don’t waste your money on betting it’s a fool’s game.
8. Pay attention
Especially when playing Frisbee in the park or flying a kite. Get to know your parents and teachers. Listen to what they have to say. (Even if you don’t always take notice of them.) Parents and teachers are an excellent resource to know how it all went wrong! Nonetheless respect your elders.
9. Look good
But don’t look too good. All children should enjoy the influence and beauty of their youth. Trust me if you’re under 18 you look fabulous and have lots of potential. However don’t mess too much with your hair or by the time you are 18, you will look 80. Fashion is for the young, if you don’t shock your folks with your outfit at least once before your 18 then you’re not trying hard enough.
10. Smile
Brush your teeth, floss and get plenty of calcium while you’re still growing. – believe me you’ll miss your teeth when they’re gone!
11. Romance
Keep yourself and your virtue. There are many things to fall in love with, music, swimming or sleeping in late on a Sunday morning. But try not to fall in love with things that are bad for you. By all means fall in love with people but don’t put up with people who are irresponsible with your young heart. It’s wiser to surround yourself with people who love you, will care for you and protect you when you need their support and guidance.
12. Employment
When you’re old enough, get a part time job. Don’t feel too guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your whole life when you are 16. The most interesting people I know still don’t know what they want to do with their lives and they are in their 60s.
13. Rainy days
Don’t expect anyone else to support you after you become an adult. Maybe you marry money or have generous parents, but you never know what might happen in the future. Start young and save money for times when you need to access some personal funds. It is tempting to depend on others financially, but before you experience independence, you must be independent.
14. Run the race
Your whole life is about finding out about who you are, and who you want to be. Don’t waste your time on jealousy with what other children have. The popular rich kids you know when you are young don’t always turn out to be popular or rich adults. The race of life is long and winding but in the end it’s only with your-self. Do what you feel is right. Fill every second you can with joy, for adulthood is not always so pleasurable.
15. Be Kind
To yourself, animals and be nice to your siblings: your brothers and sisters are your best link you have to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Eat in moderation, get plenty of exercise and don’t kill too many insects.
16. Tell the truth
Be careful about what you say and whose advice you take. However, be patient with those who supply you with advice. Know that advice is a form of nostalgia and that most people paint over the ugly parts before they feed it to you. Don’t paint over your ugly parts; you and your history are what make the person you are. However remember it’s not what you do it’s what you choose not to do that makes you the person you are.
17. Be smart
Wash your hands. Wait but don’t wait too long. Watch adults cook and help where you can. Don’t tell lies and don’t hate. Know that prices will rise, people will fail you and you too will get old; and when you do, you’ll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, people were accountable, and children did what they were told. Do what you are told and obey the law.
18. Have friends
Become skilled at finding out who your true friends are but understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Boys get someone you trust to teach you to shave. Girls get someone you trust to teach you to manage your hair. Discover that no one is perfect. Remember the only person who will always truly be with you is you.
19. Accommodation
Know that home is where your heart is. But you should also live in a city once, but leave before it makes you hard and live in the countryside once, but leave before it makes you soft. Wherever you live know that everyone have to overcome obstacles and that where you live as a child doesn’t have to be where you will always live.
20. Take a trip
The Earth has much to offer, but still reach for the stars. Remember your childhood is short, but in the end, it’s your childhood. Learn to roller-skate, ride a bike, drive a car, take a train and fly someplace once in a while. Sometimes it will be a triumph and sometimes a total disaster. But trust me travel!
