Words of Advice to Ten-Year-Old Me

Don't join those kids in teasing that girl.

Sure, she was annoying,

But you are too,

And sure those kids were safety, 

But they will soon dissappear,

And you will be left with only the guilt,

of ruining someone's year. 

Don't pretend to hate pink.

You don't,

Society just told you pink was too feminine,

And that femininity was weakness,

But pink was just a color,

And you too can be feminine,

And still be as strong as any other. 

Don't listen to the voices telling you to shrink yourself. 

Resist the urge to stare a little too long at the dance studio mirror,

Because even four years later, you will still battle her whispers,

And won't go one meal without having to hear her. 

Don't stop talking to people.

Don't pretend to be someone you're not,

It will be scary, 

At times,

It will be embarrassing,

And you will regret it at first,

But soon, you will find your best friends,

The ones who will laugh with you at your best, 

And stick with you at your worse,

The ones you probably won't expect.

And if nothing else,

Don't stop praying,

Don't stop dancing,

Don't stop dreaming,

Don't stop eating,

Don't stop laughing,

Don't stop crying,

And maybe most of all,

Don't stop believing,

Because if I believe in you,

And you believe in me,

Then maybe,

Just maybe,

That's all we really need.