A Letter to My Younger Self

Some thoughts and learnings:

-Your hair is beautiful, even if it’s thin. Don’t get extensions. 

-Don’t worry when people tease you for having a “bubble butt”. In a few years this crazy woman called Kim Kardashian will make big butts super trendy. So much so, that people will be doing all sorts of exercises, and wearing these strange ‘scrunch butt’ pants to look as though they have one. Someone even writes a song about it. 

-Always remember how much you love sport and keep doing it, even when you’re older. Nothing makes you as happy as scoring a goal in soccer and you don’t have to be a kid to have that feeling. 

-On that, be a kid. Don’t try and grow up too fast. You’ve only got 15 or so years to be a kid and you have the rest of your life to be an adult. Have sleepovers, dance with your friends, ride your bike too fast down a big hill, play dress-ups. Be silly.

-Have hard conversations with your parents. When you’ve fucked up, tell them. When they’ve upset you, tell them. When you’re sad, alone, angry – tell them. They want to be there for you. 

-Your high school friends are not as important as they feel at the time.

-Doing well in school is important but remember to have fun. It’s the only time in your life that you won’t pay for rent or bills, will have food made for you and get to spend all day hanging out with your friends. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself.

-Smile in photos. Always. 

-Don’t get so burnt at the beach. Just put sunscreen on, seriously.

-Ask for what you want and be assertive.

-Know that the most beautiful person in the room is the person who is most interested, friendly and full of grace. 

-Sometimes be naughty. It’s ok to break the rules. Be safe, but don’t be too good too much of the time.

-Boys with tattoos aren’t cool (mostly). 

-You can’t ask the right person the wrong question. 

-If you don’t feel safe in conversation that person is not someone you should give your time to. 

-Get up early. Even when you don’t want to.

-Go to therapy (before you get married).

-When you feel anxious try opposite day: do exactly the opposite of everything your anxiety is telling you to do.

-Learn what anxiety is. Understanding it will change your life.

-If someone does crafts of any kind for you, they love you. 

-Share photos that make you happy. 

-Write your book and do art.

-Don’t give your love or time to someone who doesn’t do what they said they would. 

-Never ever date someone who makes you feel like you need to change parts of yourself, or hide parts of yourself. There is someone who will celebrate every weird and wonderful part of you. 

-Drink water. Meditate. Journal. Get sleep and eat one kiwi fruit every day. Just please do that.

-Do what you feel called to do. Even if it feels unconventional. You have to have a crack. 

-And lastly, know that it’s all going to be ok. That you will end up where you always wanted, that you’ll have enough and you’ll make it through even the worst times, no matter how big they feel. You and your beautiful hair and your bubble butt have a pretty amazing life.