What would you tell your younger self?

If you could go back 10 years (or maybe 20 if you're slightly older), and have a conversation with your "younger self", what advice or knowledge would you give?


 
A few weeks ago, this topic came up amongst a couple of friends and I. In fact, we're all bloggers and have a podcast coming out soon, and this was one of our topics of choice. Since the podcasting process is taking a bit longer to get up and running, I figured it would make a good post while we wait lol. Once the podcast is available on iTunes, you can hear what my blogger-buddies have to say about this too!
 
When this question was first asked, the first thing you do is go back in time in your head. You think back to those "why did I do that?" moments and wonder what if you were just a little smarter back then and could avoid some of the trouble or heartache you caused yourself? Hmmm, it would be nice, huh?
 
The thing I would tell my younger self?...do not rush to grow up! I have heard my six year old son say "I wish I were an adult already"...and I cringe!!! No! You don't! Enjoy your youth while you can!!! I said the same thing when I was younger...I couldn't wait to grow up, be an adult, be in charge of my own life. I always wanted to get married as young as possible, settle down and have a family. I never focused too much on education or career because my heart was more interested in starting a family, being a "wife" or a "mom". And while that is not a horrible thing, I just wish I could go back and tell myself not to rush it. Take it a little more slowly. Take some time after high school and college to find myself. Travel. Meet people. See things. Really figure out who I am. Basically, find myself before I worried about finding someone else.
 
Now, the really tough part of looking back and offering yourself advice, is if you took that advice, and your life would not be as it is today...would you really want that outcome? It's hard when you have children to think if you did or didn't do certain things, you may not have them. You wouldn't exactly miss them, because you would never know them or that they could have existed. But, the reality is that I have my son and I love him more than anything! So while I might not have chosen my life exactly as it has turned out, I can't really say I would want to change anything. Marriage, jobs, health issues.. I have had trouble with all of them. But I think perhaps all of the things I have gone through and experienced have made me who I am today! The most important part in life is to keep learning. Learn from those stupid mistakes you made! None of us can really go back and change anything, so make the most of life and embrace it all :)
 
If you could go back and tell YOUR younger self anything...what would it be???
 

 


Comments

  1. I agree with your sentiment about not rushing to grow up. Our four 4.5 year-old children have so much fun playing and being kids without many responsibilities. I want them to hang on to that as long as possible and to dream big.

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  2. I still refuse to be an adult! Growing up can happen when it needs to :-P

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  3. I love that as a mom, we experience truth because of/through our children! I would tell myself that whatever problem/hard thing is okay. It maybe wasn't as big as I thought when I was right up close, experiencing it - and that it was shaping me. Preparing me for something more, something better.

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  4. I would tell myself not to take it all so seriously. Looking back, things have a way of working out.

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  5. I totally agree with the thought of if you did change something major your life would never be the same as it is today. I would not want to trade my daughter for all of the traveling in the world. I would tell myself to follow my heart and don't worry about what other people will say about your decisions. More importantly I would tell myself that good ole saying of, "This to shall pass, I promise!" There are so many times I look back and wish I could have known that a sunny day would eventually come. It would save a lot of heartache.

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  6. I so agree with this! My mom always advised to me to "enjoy every stage" and I think it is such a great way to live and I hope to pas that state of mind to my children too.

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  7. I totally agree. I wish I wouldn't have rushed through college, and would have taken a semester abroad. You are right, though. I wouldn't want to change anything that would effect having my three beautiful boys now. I just need to be more conscious and enjoy our present time.

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  8. I wish my husband and I would have traveled more before we had kids.

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  9. I am more beautiful and stronger than I believe.

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  10. I would tell my younger self explore my dreams and passions...because you never know where they will lead. Don't be afraid to try something your interested in. Failure is a necessity in life, it's how we learn. And last, Don't ever worry about what others think..do what makes you happy!

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  11. Awesome write up. And you are so right : don't rush for anything, at any age ! The mantra of happy living!

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  12. i would say wait to have kids until you're ready - but don't wait TOO long - because then you run into problems (like i did)!

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