5 Things I Would Tell My Younger Self
Listening to Geek Insider’s weekly Geek Speak podcast, a question that Matthew & Meredith ask almost every guest got me thinking.
“If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?”
I recently completed my 3rd decade on this planet and while it hasn’t been the easiest life, I’ve been blessed in many ways. I’ve acquired strength and wisdom from my experiences, especially those not-so-smart choices. As a young girl, I spent a lot of time worrying about what people thought about me, trying to contort myself into being the person that fit into this group or transform into someone that I thought someone else wanted me to be.
I’m sure many of you have fallen into this trap. Telling yourself and then proving that you aren’t good / thin / smart / or funny enough. For me, those choices eventually lead to an eating disorder, anxiety, roller coaster depression, and an attitude from hell. As I spent time looking back at my younger years and all that I have gone through, I came up with 5 things I would say to that girl.
If you’re on the younger side, I hope that you’ll take these to heart and use them to help you be the authentic you!
5 Pieces of Advice I’d Tell My Younger Self
1. Don’t Fit the Mold
Be YOU! It doesn’t matter one single bit if you’re different, strange, weird, or anything other than what everyone else is trying to be. Why? Because one of the greatest ironies in life is that when you get older, you’ll fight like crazy to stand out in a sea of similarity. If you embrace your quirks and those things that make you you, it’ll serve you tremendously in the future… without the effort the rest of us have to put in.
2. Don’t Get Stuck in Your Thoughts When You’ve Had Your Feelings Hurt
Everyone, and I mean everyone, gets their feelings hurt in this life. Period. Things are said out of anger or in the heat of the moment and it’s not always nice. The truth is, it’s usually not even about you. It’s about them and their own BS. Obsessing over it will only cause you unnecessary grief.
Let. It. Go!
3. Your Parents DO Love You
Contrary to your belief, you actually don’t know everything and thinking/acting like you do is very unattractive and makes you look like an asshole. Though it can sound rather condescending at your age, they really are trying to look out for your best interest and even if it doesn’t seem like it, they’re doing the best they can with what they know and have.
Cut them some slack, stop saying you hate them, and drop the ‘tude.
4. Listen to That Little Voice
You know the one, it whispers things like “What the HELL are you doing Alicia” whenever you’re doing something edgy, questionable, or downright stupid. That voice can be very wise and a moral compass, listen to it and you’ll avoid a lot of trouble in life.
5. Meditate…
Or pray. Do something that connects you to a higher place. You can find a lot of answers in life by simply being quiet and listening. Take time every day to block out the white noise of life and quiet your mind. It’s one of the easiest and best ways to learn more about yourself.
Really and truly, there’s a lot more I’d like to tell my younger self.
“Don’t sweat the small stuff.”
“Don’t hide your weed under the mattress, Mom will definitely find it.”
“Don’t give your virginity to Kevin Winton.”
While my mistakes in life helped mold me into the woman I am today, I definitely could’ve gone an entire lifetime or two without the whole Kevin Winton incident.
So there’s one last thing I would tell young Alicia…
Don’t wait until you’re 25 to buy a vibrator.
Trust me on this one, girl.
