If I could tell my teenage self anything…
it would be to eat everything and anything. Half a pie for breakfast and still a size 2–only at 16.
If I could tell my teenage self anything, I’d let her know that all her friends she’s so crazy about won’t be around after she steps through Baylor’s doors. Friends stay in our lives to teach us lessons or help us grow, and lifelong friends are rare and treasured indeed. But family–family never leaves.
And sometimes, they’re even right. Just never admit that.
If I could tell my teenage self anything, it would be to hang on to those girlfriends. You know the ones I mean. They’re the ones you giggle with and tell anything to, that you share dreams and bad date stories and hopes and tears. The ones that you miss desperately in college when you have no one to see chick flicks or eat ice cream with or call at 3 a.m. The ones that you long for when you’re married in a new city and convinced the neighbors have been eaten by their cat. The ones that would go out and dance with you when everyone else is too old, too distinguished or thinks you’re just insane.
Trust me–it’s harder to make friends when you’re not 16.
If I could tell my teenage self anything, I’d tell her to hold her heart tight. You’ll only fall hard for one boy, and he’ll break your heart and wreck your soul. He’ll make you feel ugly when you’re beautiful, self conscious when you’re confident and dim that inner glow. Your real love will come in two years and be more wonderful than anything you’d ever dreamed or wished for. Boys are merely dance partners at this age–and that’s all you need them for.
If I could tell my teenage self anything, it would be not to worry so much. You spend so much time trying to find a career to support your writing when you should be focusing on your writing. You’ll work for a paper, you’ll write for magazines, you’ll publish books and you’ll keep dreaming. Don’t doubt your talent or doubt your drive–for when your fingers are quiet, it’s like you die inside. You tried to fight it freshman year and you’ll try again–but every time the bug bites again and again. But as soon as you give up, you’ll win.
Trust me. And ignore the bad rhymes.
What would you tell your teenage self?
I think I would tell myself to cherish the friendships I had back then. I’ve rekindled some of them (in a great, non-forced way) and I can’t help but wonder what would have happened had I not turned my back on my friends for a guy. A guy who, of course, is long gone now…
I know what you mean by this and hope when my daughter is of age- she’s able to take some advice from me (although I know she won’t because none of us do).
I hope she doesn’t let guys mistreat her just because shes getting attention- this drives me INSANE! I just don’t undersatnd why it happens so often.
I totally want to write one of these. I love this so much! Everything you said here is SO TRUE!!
I marvel at how well-adjusted my teenage self was. (The 20s version? A different story…) The one piece of advice I think she needed though was that she didn’t HAVE to have a boyfriend, and that boys have feelings too.
I also would have told her to thank her teachers and coaches; they were the best of the best and set her up for success.
{Melinda} I need to show this to my teenage daughter! What would I tell myself? That I’m worth alot more than I think I am. To quit worrying so much about what people think. Don’t sell myself short. Have boundaries and don’t let people take advantage of me. Think more about the future. Today will pass.
great post, I would tell my teenage self not to worry about makeup or size, beauty is not a size, clothing, makeup, or jewelery. You are beautiful, feel it and that is all you need. I would tell my teenage self to NEVER open a credit card and enjoy every moment, it goes too fast.
I would have told myself to have more fun and not worry so much about what everyone thinks!
Very well said!
I tried to do this prompt, but ended up writing a letter to my 16 yr old daughter… I do not have a 16 yr old daughter yet, so I moved on.
What I would tell my teenage self? Do not allow food control you, just don’t do it!
You’re so lucky that you realized your gift early on. The only writing I did in high school is in my personal journal and while there are some interesting (and embarrassing) stories in there, it’s not creative or anything.
I did this prompt too! There were quite a few things I’d tell myself!
I absolutely love this post! If I could tell my teenage self one thing it would be not to worry so much on everyone else that you stop doing things for yourself. I spent a lot of my teenage life worrying what was going on in my friends’ lives that I forgot to do things for myself.