Some things.

Dear Shy Awkward Girl In My English Class Who Isn't Sure Who Her Friends Are,

I am so honored that you read my blog. To be frank, I'm not sure who you are. But if you want to tell me who you are, that would be wonderful - because I want to be your friend. Then again, if you would like to remain anonymous, that is your choice.

There are some things I would like you to know: Being shy and awkward is beautiful. One of my best friends, Bianca, claims to be "painfully shy and socially awkward." I think she is one of the most lovely people alive. I, too, am awkward. And I have embraced that. It's fine! In fact, it's more than fine to be awkward, it's wonderful.

Second, you will find friends in unusual places. Not to mention, unusual friends. I've been in your situation, and I understand that it is one of the hardest places an adolescent girl can find herself. Don't change yourself. People you love will come into your life. They will love you and care for you and respect you. Stand up for yourself and what you believe in, and people who will stand with you will climb into your heart.

You are very smart; you are beautiful in every single way.

Empower yourself.

All my love, Addy

P.S. Dear Square-sush: so glad you found my blog. xoxx, Addy.

Life moves too much.

But Matt's shoes will always smell like fire. No matter how much he wears them, they always will. I love that.

I love that Avery will always be afraid of haircuts.

I love that Kate will always play the piano and write in the same cute handwriting and never fail to get me my notes she's written.

I love that Harli and Hayley will always live very near each other and never stop being funny.

I love that Nathan Stukey will always be... Very Nathan-ly.

And I love how Zach Lee will always keep the cold air on - even in the winter.

I love that Parker will always call me Oprah and tell me that we should throw a therapy session.

I love that Gabe will never know what we wrote on the bottom of his shoe freshman year.

I love that Parker will always be the greatest gentleman with the funniest baby pictures.

And I love that Kaitlynn and I will always be twins.

I love how Collin White will always be associated with to techno music and the time we played Apples to Apples in his basement.

I love Tim and Welson simply for being Tim and Welson.

I love that Ben will always blog funny things and play the guitar and write brilliant songs.

I love that Emily will always be in my Journalism class and feel like she still lives in my neighborhood even though she moved away nearly a year ago.

I love that the Colemere's house will always be very full of people and music and shoes that smell like fire.

I love that Laura will always text me when something scary happens.

And I love that I am considering getting a Dark Mark tattooed on my forearm.

Go read good books and eat rice.

All my love, Addy

Here's to the kids...

"Here's to the kids. The kids who would rather spend their night with a bottle of coke & Patrick or Sonny playing on their headphones than go to some vomit-stained high school party. Here's to the kids whose 11:11 wish was wasted on one person who will never be there for them. Here's to the kids whose idea of a good night is sitting on the hood of a car, watching the stars. Here's to the kids who never were too good at life, but still were wicked cool. Here's to the kids who listened to Fall Out boy and Hawthorne Heights before they were on MTV...and blame MTV for ruining their life. Here's to the kids who care more about the music than the haircuts. Here's to the kids who have crushes on a stupid lush. Here's to the kids who hum "A Little Less 16 Candles, A Little More Touch Me" when they're stuck home, dateless, on a Saturday night. Here's to the kids who have ever had a broken heart from someone who didn't even know they existed. Here's to the kids who have read The Perks of Being a Wallflower & didn't feel so alone after doing so. Here's to the kids who spend their days in photobooths with their best friend(s). Here's to the kids who are straight up smartalecks & just don't care. Here's to the kids who speak their mind. Here's to the kids who consider screamo their lullaby for going to sleep. Here's to the kids who second guess themselves on everything they do. Here's to the kids who will never have 100 percent confidence in anything they do, and to the kids who are okay with that. Here's to the kids. This one's not for the kids, who always get what they want, but for the ones who never had it at all. It's not for the ones who never got caught, but for the ones who always try and fall. This one's for the kids who didnt make it, we were the kids who never made it. The Overcast girls and the Underdog Boys. Not for the kids who had all their joys. This one's for the kids who never faked it. We're the kids who didn't make it. They say "Breaking hearts is what we do best," and, "We'll make your heart be ripped of your chest" The only heart that I broke was mine, when I got my

hopes up too too high. We were the kids who didn't make it. We are the kids who never made it."

- Peter Wentz

Here's to you.

I've always believed that life is rather simple, really. What happens, happens. What does not, does not. The past is the past. We give what we get. The only way to have a friend is to be a friend. This does not mean we can allow ourselves to be content with sitting around and doing nothing, because what happens, happens and there is doing we can do to change this BECAUSE THIS IS NOT TRUE. We cannot control the past, and for the most part, not the future. Quite frankly, there are many elements of the present moment we cannot bother or change or control. But we can control one thing, and if that is all, then that is enough: our attitude. Happiness is a choice. It is a disposition. Choose to be happy. In life, we are faced with choices. We can choose. We can make decisions. We can fall in love, or fall in hate. We can make babies or make art. We can sit silently and hate everything and not be a part of anything, or we can dance with our heads held high. To be somebody, we must not be afraid to be nobody. And therefore, we become somebody....

This is for you.

Stop

Just stop.

Stop looking in the mirror and saying, "I'm fat."

Stop looking around and saying, "I'm ugly."

Stop thinking, "I'm not good enough."

Because if you are thinking this about yourself, what are you thinking about me?

You are lovely in every single way.

You look exceptionally nice today.

I love you very much.

Smile, and the world will sing your praises.

YOU ARE PRETTY.

STAY THAT WAY.

All my love, Addy.