Birthday Blues?

First of all, happy birthday! Secondly, you still have so much more time in front of you. There's nothing at all that says your past is better than your future, but there's so much that says the opposite. You have years and years to learn from past mistakes and awkward encounters and make new, amazing memories. And you're right, life is short. So live every day to it's fullest. Smile at a stranger, help someone with their bags, open the door for someone who's arms are full. Make people smile. Make yourself smile. And live the life you want to live. <3

It may not seem like it by what every adult is probably saying, but you're still very young. The world is vast, and you have so much potential, you're just glimpsing the world as it really is right now. Dive into it! It's an adventure! Just like when you played pretend as a kid. But this one is REAL! Explore! Learn! Advance! Become what you've always wanted and everything in between. There will be dangers, obstacles, villains, but just remember that it is the struggle which makes you stronger. It was the things you overcame in the past that made you who you are today, and it is the things you will overcome in the future that will lead you to who you will become. The is SO MUCH in this world to see, to hear, to feel, to say. Isn't that exciting!? Isn't it grand!? Can you just not wait!? Because I sure can't! I'm the same age as you, and I am grateful for today because I saw, I heard, I felt, and I learned. So I say to you: Happy Birthday, you have so many more to look forward to.

No sense in living in the past, you'll miss the present! If there's something you want to change about yourself, just start now, you've got plenty of time.

There is no reason to regret the past! While life may be short you are only 18 and have a lot of life left ahead of you! One of my favourite quotes comes from an animated movie, "The past is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift, that is why it's called the present." The things you wish you could go back to should not bother you. You can't live life always asking "what if?" Growing up can be scary which could be the cause of you feeling upset but don't worry and remember you have so much life ahead of you! Live for the now and not worry about what has already happened! Good luck!

One thing I like to do every birthday is set some goals for myself in the coming year, I never tell anyone these goals because they are for me but I find it a great way of looking positively at the next year ahead. I write myself a little note on my phone and it's always cool looking back and seeing how far I've come or how much I've changed. Also, don't feel bad, and you're not being selfish, gifts are great but we all need our own private time to figure things out. Oh and happy birthday!