Advice to My Younger Self

For some reason, I started thinking about my younger self this morning as I drove to work. Oh how I wish I could have talked to her and given her a heads up on certain things…

If there was a way to go back and tell my younger self a thing or two, there would be volumes of information that I would like to share, for sure… but most importantly, I would tell her:

-Spend as much time with your elders as you possibly can. Ask them questions about their childhood, how they met, their dreams, their favorite memories. Preserve your family stories by asking your loved ones to recount their favorite memories. Though it seems like they will be here forever, they will all leave you and it will become important to you to remember them and preserve their legacies;

-Be gentle with your body. Understand that you feel invincible and capable of anything when you’re young, but your body will show signs of the abuse, wear, and tear… and you will feel far from invincible. Take care of yourself and look at it as pacing yourself for the long haul… trust me, you’ll thank me later.

-Wait for no man. Decide your dreams and goals and aim full speed ahead. When diverted by the attentions of others, enjoy it, but never let it compromise WHO YOU ARE. If you lose yourself, it will take DECADES to find her again. Stay true to yourself always. This will serve you well.

-See beauty in all things. It will make looking in the mirror as you age a much less frightening experience.

-Sleep is overrated. Imagine all you could pack in if you didn’t need so much sleep. You can sleep later, live it up NOW.

-Your shyness is perceived as bitchiness. Admit to being self-conscious about everything instead of covering up your insecurities with a hard exterior. You’ll be happier in the long run, trust me.

I could say a lot more to the younger me about life in general, but I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprises that life brings. I would just tell her to be a little gentler with herself both emotionally and physically and not to worry so much. Love fully but don’t lose yourself, and to spend time with loved ones because life is fleetingly short.

Live. Laugh. Love.