Do you ever think back to your younger self and wish you could have given him/her advice? Maybe you think about yourself as a teenager and wish you would have known things about the world that you know now. Today I want to talk about advice I would give my teenage self.
- Have Fun
I remember all the things I was worried about when I was a teenager. I would worry about what clothes I was wearing or how cool I was etc. These were honestly stupid things to worry about. None of which would be relevant in 5 years, let alone 10. I spent so much time worrying about the wrong issues and not enough time enjoying being a teenager. Being a teen should be a fun time in your life. You are getting older but you still live under your parent’s roof. So you can have all the fun with not much responsibility. So go hang out with your friends. Go on adventures. Have fun, but be safe and smart when you do. Because you’ll never be that young and carefree again.
- Boys Aren’t Worth it
I remember when I was a teenager and the most exciting thing were teenage boys. If I had to give my teenage self advice, it would be that highschool boys are not worth your time. Most highschool boys are just that-boys.They are immature and don’t know much about relationships. Teenage boys are really not worth your time and emotions. Don’t spend months crying over a boy who doesn’t appreciate you. Love yourself enough to move on. You deserve better.
- Focus on You
This goes along with the last piece of advice. Your teenage years are the time to be selfish. You should be focused on your hobbies and passions. This is when you are deciding what makes you happy. Don’t spend your nights crying over boys or worried that you aren’t popular enough. Just embrace your passions and love yourself. Because one day you will realize that the same hobbies that make you different are the ones that make you special. And one day, you’ll find people that share those same passions and hobbies too.
- Spend time with Loved Ones
I feel like most of the time, teenagers get embarrassed by their parents. It’s not until their twenties that most kids realize how great their parents actually are. A big lesson that I would teach my younger self is to appreciate your friends and family. Tell them how much they mean to you and how much you love them. People don’t realize how quickly life can change. Right before my 25th birthday, I lost my father to a long battle with cancer. I would give anything to have one more movie night with him or just hug him and tell him that I love him. Life can be short. Spend as much time as you can with your loved ones and never be afraid to tell them you love them.
Another part that can go along with this is appreciating your siblings. My sister and I didn’t get along too well until I turned 18. After that, something changed and we realized that we actually got along really well. And now, 9 years later, I consider her my best friend. Now I know that this isn’t the case for all siblings. But if you can, try to maintain a relationship of some sort with your family members (If you have toxic family members then I totally understand not doing so).
- You Will Outgrow Friends
As we grow up and find our hobbies, our friends change as well. Some friendships will fade overtime and that’s okay. You aren’t going to stay friends with everyone you were friends with as a teenager. Of course, you should always make an effort to maintain your friendships. But if the other person in your friendship stops making an effort. Or if you two feel you two are going in different directions, then it’s okay to let the friendship go. Friendships come and go in life but the ones that are meant to be in your life will stay. If you are meant to stay friends with someone, then you will both continue to make that effort. Just like you would in any relationship.
- Stand up for Yourself
This is a big one, especially as a woman. In life, the only person that you can truly rely on is yourself. You have to be an advocate for yourself. Stand up for yourself and what you believe in. Don’t let any man or woman talk down to you. Love yourself enough to walk away from toxic relationships or places. Have enough confidence in yourself not to believe the gaslighting in a toxic relationship. Love yourself and keep people around that love and support you too.
- You Won’t Know it All
At 18 you are supposed to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life. My advice to you would be that at 18, you aren’t going to know it all. In fact, at 27 I don’t even know it all. But I guarantee you are going to figure it out. You are going to have some great people in your life. And you are going to figure out where you want to be. Follow your passions and stand up for yourself. The only thing standing in between you and your dreams is your mindset. The sky’s the limit.
Please enjoy the photos below of teenage me being silly (some things never change).
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