Sage advice…

What advice would you give to your teenage self?

Oh my, where to begin….?

I would tell her to speak kindly to herself, even if she misses a goal she set. Failure is merely a learning experience – a chance to do better next time. It is not a condemnation of her worth or skill.

I would tell her that reactions are bullshit. A thoughtful response is far greater than a knee jerk reaction.

I would tell her that compassion, sympathy and empathy are important, but that no level of any of them makes you responsible for or capable of managing someone else’s emotions, nor do they obligate you to please anyone.

I would tell her that life is hard, but in most cases, you get to choose which hard you have to deal with, especially if you make that choice early enough.

I would tell her that not only is she a descendant of stardust, but that the fact that she even exists is a statistical miracle, and she would do well to honor that fact.

I would tell her that other people are entitled to their opinion, but that that opinion is nothing compared her opinion of herself.

I would tell her to be herself – say the weird thing, take up space, rant about her passions. If other people don’t get it, that’s fine. Find the ones that do.

I would tell her that the nonsense she obsesses over most likely had no lasting impact on anyone else – they are all too busy obsessing over their own foibles.

I would tell her to trust her gut, and that little voice in her head that whispers oh so faintly.

i would tell her that treating anyone else better than she treats herself is an act of betrayal and should not be tolerated.

Having said all that, would she listen? Would she take the advice of someone who knows better? Who knows? She was a stubborn thing for sure!