Dear child of today:

Hey Kids, listen up. This is my advice to you, and I'm giving it to you based on my own experiences. You don't have to listen to me, but if you're gonna read this then at least think about what I'm about to say.

1. Get outside more
2. Take a break
3. Live one day at a time
4. Don't sweat the small things
5. Make memories

This summer, I had to babysit a few kids and I noticed something that surprised me. They did not want to go outside! I've watched six different kids, and four of them just wanted to stay inside and watch cartoons. My best memories from childhood all involve being outside and having adventures. I know I sat inside and watched cartoons,but I couldn't tell you what I was watching. It wasn't important for me to remember. For me, watching cartoons or playing ps2 as a kid was just a way to waste time, while I was waiting to go do something. I mean, it's summer right now! It's sad to me when a kid just sits around inside, and kinda pathetic. Get outside kids. Go enjoy your childhood, get dirty for goodness sakes! TV and video games are not bad, but there are things better than them. Like having an imagination. You can't learn how to make believe without going out and trying it yourself.

Yes, you might just need a break one day. And if that's the case, go for it. Take a lazy day and just relax. But remember that you never know what tomorrow might bring for you. So at the end of the day, make sure you are happy. Always go to sleep with a smile on your face, and no regrets. It's a waste if you go to bed upset or angry with someone, or wishing you would have done something more. At the same time, there is tomorrow so don't sweat the small things.

The little things make your life full. It could be as simple as eating chocolate ice cream and feeling insanely happy, or saying hi to someone new. Everything you do has an impact, no matter how small. It could have a negative or positive affect, so try and stay aware of how you treat others. When you grow up and look back on how you spent your childhood, will you remember the little things, or the big ones? And which memories will be more important to you?

Memories are being created all the time, but the ones from your childhood are special. You can't remember all of them, so the ones that are memorable really do count. For me, I remember running around with my neighbors playing Star Wars. It's a silly but wonderful memory because it lets me remember how carefree I was. When you grow up, you may lose you're favourite stuffed bunny, but you still have your memories. Make as many as you can, while you are still able to. They will make you happy, and at the end of the day happiness is, in my opinion, the one thing that matters most.

I heard this recently form my friend Amy, and it applys to what I'm trying to say. She said "When I was 5 years old, my mom always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy.' They told me I didn't understand the assignment; I told them they didn't understand life."

Just do what makes you happy, and think for yourself kids. Don't let anyone get you down, and be original. If you get outside, you'll create a great imagination for yourself. You will easily be able to think outside the box. And by taking a break every now and then you won't stress out and you'll be able to think clearly. Tomorrow will come, so why worry about it today? You can't change the past, and you can't control the future, so live now. The little problems in life are not important; they will pass. What is much more important is the small, happy memories you make. Make as many as you can, because you really do grow up faster than you'd ever think.