What Would You Tell Yourself

What if you could travel back in time?

Hop a ride to the playground or park with the express purpose of talking to your 9-year-old self.

What would you say?

If you sat down for a cup of coffee with the you you were as an 18-year-old newly minted high school graduate or college freshman, what do you wish that young person knew?

What would you love to tell your younger self about living your best life?

Here are some things I’d tell my young self:

• Like what you like. Whether it’s the music you listen to, the clothes and shoes you wear, the movies & tv shows you watch– like what you like. Feed your soul with things that bring you joy.
• Give a book no more than 10% of its length to hook you. Life is too short to slog through bad books.
• Always be the sober chauffeur. Uber makes life easier, but the best person to take care of you is…you! I think it’s easier to go through life drinking soda at a party than to realize too late that no one in the group you came with is capable of driving.
• The only people who need door mats are people with dirty feet. If you act like a door mat, you’ll end up with mud all over you, so stand up for yourself (and for people who aren’t able to stand up for themselves.)
• Try new things & re-try old things. If you’ve never eaten hummus or pad Thai, or sushi, try it. If you tried it once as a kid, try it again as an adult. Tastes really do change. The same holds true for books, movies, music, and hobbies.
• Take classes that interest you, and don’t worry about the GPA. I wish my 18 year old self would have been less worried about her GPA and more willing to try classes just for the fun to trying something new. Pottery class? Intro to Statistics? Organic chemistry? Give it a whirl! You may find a new passion.
• You really do marry the whole family. Can’t stand the woman who will be your mother-in-law? Find your partner’s favorite sibling to be a royal pain in the neck? Get married and from here on out…they’ll be your family, too. And if you have children, they will be the grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
• Learn to use the crock pot.These days I love my crockpot, and I wish I would have paid attention to all the delicious crockpot meal recipes a lot sooner. There’s nothing better than coming home at the end of the day, smelling dinner ready to eat, and knowing the cooking is already done.

So what’s on your list? Drop yours in the comments below.