There are so many things I look back on and wish I could go back and tell my younger self how I should have handled it. As you get older, you realize missed opportunities along with things that seemed so big at the time that aren't even anything that crosses your mind now.
Even though there's tons of advice I could give my younger self, I've narrowed it down to five pieces of solid advice that would've been so beneficial to know in middle and high school mainly, but even elementary school!
Start now, then adjust later.
Lauryn Evarts of The Skinny Confidential always talks about how her husband, Michael Bosstick, always says this - and how he even talked her into launching her successful blog by giving her this piece of advice! I would totally love to go back and tell myself this. I'm a perfectionist, so I love for things to be perfect - especially if I'm launching or creating something. There were so many things I could've done and excelled at sooner, but I wanted it to be perfect right then and there. Take my YouTube channel, for instance. I could be so much further along with my channel, but I've always wanted things to be perfect, and honestly, that just results in wasted time. Start now, and adjust as you go.
Don't Dwell On Negativity, It'll Pass.
Ugh, if only I could tell you guys how many times I thought it was the end of the world back in elementary through high school. That's not to downplay the situations that I experienced then, because my younger self experienced a lot of horrible things in school that should've never happened and were absolutely not okay. However, if I could go back to tell myself this to give me some peace of mind, I would love to. I do feel like I wasted a lot of valuable time dealing with negative situations and people when I could've been focusing on things and people that made me happy. 2016 is a prime example of this - even though I was older and in college, the year started off really wonky, but when I completely redirected my attention to positivity, it changed my life. That was one of my favorite and best years.
Make exercising a routine & eat one healthy food 5 days of the week.
I'm getting a little better at the eating part now that I'm older and more open to trying new foods (I'm a notoriously picky eater). However, I do wish I would've incorporated exercising and eating healthier into my everyday life a long, long time ago. I feel like I was definitely more active growing up because I loved going outside, I was in a dance academy, and I cheered all throughout school. But - I wish I didn't rely only on those things and deliberately exercised in my free time. It wouldn't have hurt to have an apple a day either. 😂
Sometimes people will turn on you for what seems like no reason, and that's OK!
I can't tell you guys how many times I've cried to my mom about how someone stopped being my friend or started acting differently towards me out of nowhere. I knew I hadn't done anything wrong, but I'd constantly convince myself I had because I didn't understand why they were treating me that way. That's just something that happens with people. The people in my life that love me would always say, "It seems like they were just jealous of you." and I could never wrap my mind around why someone would be jealous of me when I wanted nothing more than to be their friend. This STILL happens to me as an adult too! 😂😂😂 I'm older now, so I peep the jealousy more and I can see why but I still...don't completely understand it?? Anyways....I always thought it was me and would always try to change things about myself to fit this mold of what people would like, and they STILL would be mean and turn on me. That's when I realized no, it's not me. That's an issue they have and they need to fix it. I'd love to tell Lil' Deja' this.
It's totally OKAY to say no to things you're not EXTREMELY excited about!
This is something I still struggle with sometimes, but I'm getting better at it! Sometimes, I just don't want to do things other people want to do. I get invited to events and outings, and I'm just not excited to go. But I still end up saying yes anyway. I'm growing to learn that I don't have to say yes to anything I don't want to go to or do! If I'm not super excited to be a part of something or do something and if my heart isn't in it, I don't have to do it. I don't have to go anywhere. I just don't HAVE to. And that's totally okay. I'm a homebody, and I love being in my own space. That's how I recharge. And me embracing that is totally fine. I'd always feel like if I didn't say yes, I'd "miss out" or regret it, even when my gut said otherwise. Even though I have a lot of work to do, I now typically only say yes to things I genuinely 100% want to do that I'm actually excited about.
Hearing all of these things from myself in middle school would've totally changed my life, but it's okay. We live and we learn. Growing and realizing things we hadn't known before is a part of life. I'm proud of myself for growing into the person I am today that recognizes these things now. What are five things you all wish you could tell your younger selves? Comment below!
xo babes, Variety Princess
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