When you are young and bright and happy,

Like a present on Christmas morning,

Pristine paper not yet torn,

You have not yet been hurt.

Your heart will forgive easily,

Each morning is an exciting adventure,

And the world is your playground.

Being young and waiting and wishing to grow up,

Telling yourself you’ll eat ice cream every night for dinner as an adult.

You think you’ve got it all figured out,

You’ll want to rebel everything your parents told you,

To prove them wrong.

As if you know better than everyone else.

That you’ve figured out the secret to life.

The dread of school after each weekend,

Makes lunch and recess are the best parts of the day.

Still looking forward to your birthday and Christmas each year,

Lists prepared weeks in advance and counting down the days before.

So young and so innocent.

No concept of limited money and working for what you have.

A mother's hug could solve anything.

To not a clue about life,

But living each day as if it's your last is a blessing.

This is the youngest you will ever be again,

And these days will soon be memories.

Wishing you could go back and tell yourself “do better, try a little harder.”

This teenage heartbreak won’t last forever.

You deserve someone who makes you feel like the sun,

F**k everyone who thought you couldn’t or you weren’t enough.

And to love your own body because it keeps you strong and healthy.

You are so beautiful.

Even when you feel like the world is turned against you,

Just wait a little longer and hold your head higher,

A door will open and you will reign.

This is only the beginning of your beautiful life.

You are young,

The world is your playground.