19 wishes to my soon-to-be-19 year old self

Since I’m turning 19 this May 28, I have written a list of my wishes to myself. I will try to honor this list and make these wishes happen.

1. Simplify things.  Minimize! Life is simple but you make it so damn complicated. The simplest things are often the truest.
2. Act smart. Fake it till you make it, as what they say.
3. Avoid worldly enticements such as alcohol, smoking and drugs as much as possible.
4. Read and read and don’t stop reading. Be picky with what you read. Remember, nothing distinguishes a bad read from the act of not reading at all. Enable the workings of your gray matter.
5. Do not take negative remarks, how painful may they be, personally. Bounce them off. Your heart need not be disheartened by such undesirable and unsolicited opinions.
6. Always practice good manners. Nothing is classier than a girl with decorum and great bearings towards others.
7. Feed thyself with green, edible, fibrous things each day.
8. Exercise like you want to wear out your running shoes as quickly as possible.
9. Use a planner and get things done. Show no mercy to that ‘to-do’ list of yours and scratch them out of the list like a madcap.
10. Study, once and for all. Make it a habit. Utilize the library. Get those grades whopping.
11. If a guy is a jerk, he’s nothing but a baloney to you. Don’t glamorize him with your saccharine fancies and stop thinking about him 24 hours a day.
12. Even though your rivals, err classmates want to get it on with you, don’t mind them anyway. You’re not competing with them. You’re competing with your limits, with yourself. Don’t mind them disliking you. It’s not your beverage that is becoming bitter, it’s theirs.  
13. Extend yourself. Turn to people. Share things with them. Buy them a cup of coffee. Listen to what they have to say. Buy your friends random gifts and pray for their happiness every single day.
14. Don’t be afraid of fiascos, of looking dumb, of being alone or unworthy. Ask stupid questions, it’s part of the thrill. Fall on your face if you trip. What the heck, be embarrassed if you are. Don’t worry, it’ll all pass.
15. Write it down. Everything. It doesn’t matter what disorder you’re making in your journal. No one will see it anyway. It’s just you, be yourself.
16. Be punctual. Attend all your classes. This is why your grades dropped last semester, you’re so indolent. Get your butt off that chair and get moving.
17. Avoid gossip and gossipmongers. The compulsion of noting a passerby’s new pair of lousy socks is nothing but a passing fancy. It’ll get you nowhere but down a notch rather spend your idle hour on valuable endeavors. Take heed.
18. Keep learning, all the time; and try new things. Seek out these opportunities for yourself - school will only teach you so much.
19. Be passionate about what you love. They define what you really are. Love yourself. Be happy, breath, smile and take everything in.

May the powers bless me!