On the WAY-fm morning show, they were talking about something that caught my attention. The question came up: What would you say to your 16-year old self and what advice would you give? I immediately had some answers.

First, I would tell my younger self this. The next time you decide to go strutting around the mall thinking you’re all that and a bag of Doritos, remember to check your fly first. Because walking around with your fly wide open tend to lose you cool points. And no, the earth won’t open up and swallow you just because you really want it to.

Second, have better taste in music. I mean Wham, really? What were you thinking?

Most of all, I would say to myself, “You are ok. You are going to be just fine even though sometimes that seems impossible. You are good enough just the way God made you and you don’t have to pretend to be anybody else or be ashamed of yourself.

“Learn to laugh at yourself and take yourself less seriously. Take what others think and say of you with a grain of salt, but don’t believe everything. Know that you don’t have to always be so worried about what others think of you, because they are wondering what you think of them. They are scared, too.

The best thing I could tell you would be to love yourself as God loves you. He sees you and doesn’t see awkward, shy, and sometimes klutzy guy, but He sees someone worth dying for. He sees someone He would rather die for than live without. He looks at you with undying love. He’s very fond of you and wants you just as you are, right where you are, right now.”

Oh, and those parachute pants? Not a good idea.