Just to clarify before we get into it, the girl in the photo is me not just some random kid. And look how goddamn cute I was! I came home from a trip away to my boyfriend’s parents house “up norf” and saw this photo sitting in my parents bedroom. First of all, the frame is actually mine so I’m not so happy that my mum stole it but I thought it was cute nevertheless. I was looking at the photo whilst listening to Lea Michele’s version of “Wake Me Up” by Avicii (it’s a beautiful cover, you have to listen!) and all of a sudden I started crying. I know it sounds like I’m making this up but I’m not, genuinely, started to cry. For reals.
I just got to thinking about how small and innocent I was (which we obviously all were at some point or another) and how much I had yet to learn and experience and go through. I obviously can’t remember that day on the swing but there’s no doubt that I had absolutely no cares in the entire world. So if I could go back and tell that little girl some shit about life, so far, here’s what I’d say…
1. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Your differences are what make you unique and you have a lot to offer.
2. Treasure your teenage years. You won’t realise they were the best time of your life until they’re long gone.
3. Before you dye your hair peroxide blonde, just remember how beautiful your natural colour is.
4. And remember, you don’t neeeeed to wear 4 pairs of false lashes on a night out. Really. One will suffice.
5. You don’t go to university and you’re going to regret that massively. So just be prepared. Regret is a shit feeling.
6. There’s some shit you just can’t get through alone. So stop trying to and ask for help .
7. It’s fun drinking in the park at 14 but be careful. And know when enough is enough for you and your friends.
8. You’re going to turn 18, pass your driving test and get dumped all in the space of one month and what follows is the craziest and best few months of your life. Embrace them. Embrace every second.
9. You’re not going to notice how damaging that relationship is at the time but please, don’t worry. You get through it, you’re okay and you learn a shit ton of lessons.
10. Sometimes, you are the problem. And sometimes, it’s important to let people go because of that. Don’t hold onto anyone for selfish reasons. Let them go.
11. Friendships will not last. So enjoy your time with that person whilst you can. Whoever it may be.
12. There’s more to life than boys.
13. You are pretty. You are smart. You are talented. You are a good person.
14. Things might not always go to plan, people are sometimes cruel, sometimes things seem like they’re never going to get better for you but life is a rollercoaster, it ebs and flows and you have to embrace and learn from it all. Someone who changes your life when you’re 22 will teach you that.
You were soo cute😍🙈 nice advice, especially number 11 I was going through so,e rough times with my old friends but it’s all good now!💚
Oh what a beautiful post! There’s so much I’d tell my younger self, but the most important thing? Stand up for what YOU want. Don’t be swayed by peers and family; it’ll only land you with regret.
Yes Aimee! Fantastic advice <3
Lovely blog post! If I could go back in time, I’d tell myself not to worry about school so much. Back when I was younger, it felt like my entire world began and ended with school and education. Now? Now, life is so much bigger than some stupid classroom walls.
Hell yes! Absolutely. School is important but not the be-all and end-all of life. I also think school is important for MUCH MUCH more than just the education aspect too. It’s where you make friends, learn about friendships and relationships and bullying and a whole bunch of stuff that’s vital for personal growth.
Lmao number 3. When I was little I would cut my own hair lol imagine a little girl with full hair but a big hole bold spot(so embarrassing) so, I would tell my younger self don’t trust yourself with scissors and be yourself. ..
Much love,
Stacey
Oh dear! Hahaha
You are adorable! I think we all have so much to learn, regardless of what age we are. Years down the line, we’ll have learned so much more from our experiences and have completely different views on life. It’s always changing, and so are we. It really is so easy to get caught up in the moment, especially bad moments, but we should always remember that time will pass. Everything will pass, and we can either choose to let it consume us or grow from it.
Ashlynn | http://thecrimsoncardigan.com
Yes! Fantastic comment. It makes you wonder in 20 years from now, what would we have told ourselves at the current age we are now?
Such a thoughtful list and there are so many points that I think we would all tell our younger selves! Fab post!
http://taradaniella.com/
Thank you very much!
Omg I loved this post. Some bits really made me laugh… four pairs of lashes?? 🙊
The relationship advice struck a cord with me…if I could tell myself something for my present self it’d be not to let them destroy you like they did. Amazing post lovely. X
http://www.sopherina.co.uk
Yes… I was a bit uhm… well let’s just say I looked like I belonged on TOWIE. Hindsight is a funny thing right? But I’m sure whatever happened, you learnt some important things from it.
Firstly, yes you were absolutely adorable as a kid! Secondly i love this idea for a post, it’s so interesting. I also needed to know that i didn’t need to wear as many false eyelashes! I’d also tell myself that i will eventually learn how to apply liquid eyeliner, and that friends come and go, but the ones who matter will be there. I’d also tell myself not to worry about not having a boyfriend when all my friends did, that i would find the one #cheese 🙂
Hels xx
http://www.thehelsproject.com
Haha at least you finally learnt how to apply liquid eyeliner, I still can’t do it!!!
The one that is most relevant in this post for me is the fact that you will not be friends with people forever. I completely get this, and have drifted away from friends having spent a lot of time travelling: this blog has helped me realise who the important ones are.
Oh God I know right. I’ve drifted away from literally all of my friends from school for a whole variety of reasons. If someone told me that whilst I was in school, I would be devastated. But it’s life, unfortunately!
This post was lovely. There are so many things I’d tell my younger self, I think so at least, but given the opportunity I’m not sure what it would be…
You can get through. You do live. You end up married with a few close friends whom you can trust. You end up living and quit having to merely survive.
It’s sounds like your younger self really would have needed to hear those things. I’m really glad you can say that now 🙂
Aw your little grin and your scrunchie are just so adorable in that photo, bless your cotton socks! Point 13 is so so sooooo important to remember, thank you for articulating that so clearly! It’s so easy to be hard on yourself (excessively so) when really you should be showing yourself all the kindness! As always, a quality post!
Abbey 🐣 http://www.abbeylouisarose.co.uk
Thanks so much, Abbey. So glad you enjoyed it. I totally agree, when looking back, it’s so easy to just think of only the negatives and it’s not going to make you ANY happier by doing so! Instead, give yourself a pat on the back for what you did right and what you got through 🙂 xx
Such a brilliant post! I really liked reading it. And what a great idea to write about what you’d tell your younger self! I’ll definitely have a listen to that Wake me up cover too!
Yes! Do, it’s SO good. I think I prefer it to the original!
This is awesome, I always love hearing what people recognize about their life in hindsight. When I read these I always find a few bits of advice to take with me too xo
Hindsight is a wonderful thing… It can literally go two very extreme ways and make you look back and think “thank GOD I did that” and similar, “why didn’t I do that”.
I agree, hindsight reveals regrets on both ends like “why did I do that” or “why didn’t I do that” but it’s always a good feeling to look back and see how much something positively impacted you!
What a lovely photo and frame! Gosh what would I tell my younger self… It’ll probably be to have more fun in life and stop taking everything so seriously! At least, that’s what I would tell my current self anyways as I didn’t really let myself go when I was a child as I was too bogged down by what everyone thought of me.
Aw no 🙁 I totally feel that though, I need to have more fun and stop being so uptight sometimes for sure. It’s a hard thing to admit but important.
I would tell my younger self to not be afraid, and know that you are worth far more than whatever bullies may say 🙂
Mademoisellewomen.wordpress.com
Yes! Go you 🙂 And you most certainly are.
Thannkkkksss!
This isn’t such a beautiful and personal post! (And you were an adorably cute child!)
I wish we could go back and tell ourselves things like that! Though I guess all the mistakes we make are what make us who we are today!
PaleGirlRambling xo
Why thank you very much 😉 And yeah, I guess you’re right. But some decisions (like me, not going to university) do make you wonder whether you would be a better person now for having done that thing. I personally think I would be MUCH better now had I just gone for what I wanted to do in school and gone to university. It makes me so sad to think about actually!
I love this as I’ve been realising lately that I’ve learnt a lot since my teenage years and these pointers would have been so helpful then x
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?!
I love this! I’ve never thought about it, but I’d probably tell myself to stop worrying about what others think of me and that there’s more to life than being popular.
Claire xo
Ooh yes good point! There’s much more to life than having EVERYONE like you. If people don’t like you, you’re probably doing something right! 😉 xx
Hahah so true! 14 year old me is crying at the thought though xo
You have got me thinking now lol xx
Yeah…Would she have listened as a teen we are all quite stubborn and set in out ways, would life have changed for the better…Etc..
Very good point! She probably wouldn’t have listened to be honest…
I feel we should all do this from time to time. Reflect. A lovely idea to write about….And one that could be turned into a story…What if you could actually tell that little girl all those things..Would life be different..In any way? X
Oh gosh what an interesting thought! It’s almost scary to contemplate. If I literally told her those things, my life would be completely different. I would have gone to university for one…!
1) okay where is this Lea Michele Wake Me Up cover? Spotify, Youtube, album? I must hear, Lea Michele is <3
2) wow, your list is beautiful and I'd say about half of them I'd have to tell my younger self too.
3) I actually wrote a letter to my younger self too: https://amylsauder.wordpress.com/2015/11/19/letter-to-my-8th-grade-self/
Search for it on YouTube! It’ll probably be on a Glee playlist or something but it’ll be easy to find. Honestly it’s SO beautiful! I’ll check out your post too (: xx
Thanks! I bet I’ve heard it on Glee since I watched the whole thing, just forgot about it 🙂
This is such a lovely post! Got some really great life lessons in here- and you were such a little cutie!
Aww thank you 🙊
Great post! It’s such a good idea, and sometimes I really wished I could tell my younger self, to just care less about the others!
love, elena
https://outnaboutweb.wordpress.com
Good shout!
Do you really think your teenage years are the best? I’ve just turned 29 and I have to say that each year life is getting better.
Yep, absolutely. I’m turning 25 this year and nothing that has happened since I was 18 has even come close.
What a lovely write up!!! Do read my blog and enjoy. https://wordpress.com/posts/readbetweenthelines.blog
Thank you x
After reading this I can totally say you are not making it when you reach at certain age in your life and you look back and see how you got here its completely normal that you will cry and get emotional and best thing is you are putting your emotions out for every one to understand and whatever that you have done in your life I hope was right and every thing that you do in future will also be right cause you the one doing it and this is the key of my satisfaction I always believe in myself . Sorry if I had bored you in anyway its just that your post made me emotional
Aww no worries! Sorry for making you emotional but thank you for such a good comment!
Oh you Dont have to be sorry it was good emotional feeling I liked that’s why I wrote it