17 year old self

For some reason last night a certain thought popped into my head. If I could tell my 17 year old self advice for the future and things to come, what would it be?

If I could tell my 17 year old self...

I would say not to buy a car.
I would say it is okay to be alone.
I would say it is not okay to drink.
I would say to strive to live a righteous and virtuous life.
I would say focus on your goals.
I would say be happy and don't sweat the small stuff.
I would say work hard.

But more than that I would have never in a million years guessed where I would be today. I wouldn't know that I would turn my life completely towards Christ and that that would be the best decision I could ever make for my self. I would not have guessed that the first time I moved out of my parents house that it would be to another state. I wish I could have told myself to focus on things that matter like faith and family and education. I wouldn't know that I would get engaged and break it off. And although those tough times and mistakes have happened, I know that they have taught me extremely valuable lessons. Lessons that I would have never gotten any other way.