I love the idea of the big life - the life that matters, the life that makes a difference. The life where stuff happens, where people take action. The opposite of the life where the girl can't even speak to the boy she likes; the opposite of the life where the friends aren't even good friends, and lots of days are wasted away feeling bored and kind of okay, like nothing matters much.

Be a little kinder than you have to.

Always do what you're afraid to do.

Maybe a friend is someone who wants your updates. Even if they're boring. Or sad. Or annoyingly cutesy. A friend says “Sign me up for your boring crap, yes indeed”-because he likes you anyways. He'll tolerate your junk.

If those are your friends, you've got no need for enemies.

Get over it, Roo. If you have friends who actually like you, you’re popular enough.

Because on some level, even though it never turns out to be true, and even though I should know better, I still expect life to be like the movies.