May 30, 2017

Ten Years Of Life Lessons

I turned twenty-six last week. For many of you reading, I know you will tell me that I have my whole life ahead of me, but for me, the realisation that it is ten years since my sixteenth birthday shocked me. I then got to thinking how different my life was then, than it is now. Moreover, how I had envisioned my life would be now, back then. So I decided to write my teenage self a letter, and then decided to share it with you…

Saturday, May 30th, 2017, 21:23pm

Dear Sixteen-Year-Old Me,

You are strong. Embrace that trait. Someday in the future, you’ll know what I am talking about but just trust me for now. Hold on to it.

School

I know you hate it right now, and to be fair, I don’t blame you. Those girls are awful. You are feeling low like you can’t do anything right. Every step you take, you feel like it’s the wrong one. Don’t beat yourself up about it. It says more about who they are, than who you are.  You’ll try and change your style because of things they say. Don’t even bother. They still say the same things, and you’ll just be unhappy. Be yourself and do your best to ignore them. What they say does not define you and the sooner you realise this the happier you will be.

Work

You have no idea what you want to do in the future, and big surprise, ten years on and you still have no idea. Just enjoy figuring it out. 

Enjoy learning. You’re really good at it, and the work you put in really pays off in the end. 

Take all of the jobs – each and every one will bring new experiences, new lessons, and new friendships. The one that will stand out to you most, is the one you least want to do, but the experience is something you still talk about. You will also meet one of your best friends here; one that you will still have in ten years’ time and who you will share many life experiences with. You will go through a lot together and he will be there for you through many ups and downs. Always make time for him.

Looks

You are self-conscious and I’d be lying if I told you it will go away. You are beautiful. People will tell you all the time, and you will ignore them, but listen. Maybe if you do, you will be doing your twenty-six-year-old self a favour. 

You’re about to cut your long thick hair short and get highlights – DON’T DO IT. You will regret that decision for the foreseeable future, and it will not grow back as long and thick ever again! 

Also, just leave the hair extensions at home. You will thank me for that.

Love

You will meet your first love this year. Although you may think he is the one, he is not.

He will break your heart and you will think that it is the be-all and end-all. It is not.  

One thing is sure though; you will learn a lot from one another, and you will stay in contact. Not now. But in the future.

Value your self-worth and stay true to yourself. Many people will walk in and out of your life over the years but they are meant to be there whether it be for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. It is important to accept them and treasure them for however long they were meant to be part of your life, and when they are gone, be thankful for the gifts you received from them when they were here.

Friends

You will realise soon that not everyone has the same values as you do.

Stand up for yourself when you think something is wrong and don’t let people walk all over you. You will meet some wonderful people over the years, but not everyone has your best interests at heart. This is something you will learn the hard way, so try your best not to wear your heart on your sleeve so often. Not everyone needs to know everything. 

Remember – it is always better to have a few really close, real friends rather than many pretend friends.

Family

Keep your family close. You will go through a really tough time together in a year or so, and it will break you all apart. There will be tears, and it will hurt, in ways you won’t even be able to imagine right now, but trust that everything will be okay in the end. Scars will remain,  but they will become part of who you are and you will be a stronger person as a result. 

Don’t be afraid to tell your family how you feel and try not to block them out, despite how you may be feeling. Your family loves you no matter what and it is important to remember that. They will always be on your side, and will always be there for you.

Finally, have fun. Take chances, explore cities and countries, and try new things. You never know what life will throw at you in the future, and the last thing you want is to look back and say ‘I wish I had have…’

I look forward to meeting you in the future.

Annmarie