So if you haven't gathered it by now, today I'll be giving advice to my younger self, or to you all. Now this isn't me forcing any views on you - you don't have to take anything I say on board. I had to have these experiences in order to give advice based on them. Have a think after you've read this and see whether you'll apply any. I'll see you guys in my next post.
1. If you have a talent, use it.
Younger me was very, very quiet. I think this was mainly because I was talked down to a lot. Or maybe it was because I didn't receive the encouragement I needed. But I have a gift, or "talent". I can make people laugh. I can't tell jokes, but I'm witty, and I know what phrases to use around certain people to get a giggle out of them. And I am an EXPERT at getting myself to laugh, and I'm sure you are with yourself too. Of recent, if my parents are stressed, or my brother is going through a hard time, I try my hardest to make them feel better, and if laughter will do it, I'll be their Kevin Hart for the night. If I had used this skill when I was younger, back when everything I did was funny, maybe I could have helped a friend through a difficult time.
YOU: You need to use your gifts. If your talent is to sing, find a way to sing to the world! If you can draw, work your artwork into galleries, and onto social networking sites. If you can write, write a book. You CAN do it, and you SHOULD do it, because someone out there will appreciate it.
2. Remember to smile.
When things weren't going so great, I stopped smiling. I wasn't very happy anymore. When things go bad I tend to shut down. Recently I've learnt to not take life too seriously. And sometimes it's just better to laugh than to cry. Girls, don't waste your tears on guys, and vice versa. You're not always going to like your friends. Don't waste time getting angry over things you can't change. Cry, but then remember to stop.
YOU: You need to remember that life isn't something you can do again. You need to be able to enjoy every moment you can. You need to remember to laugh. In the hard times, in the not-so-hard times and when you're feeling burnt out. Remember to pick yourself up when times get hard.
There's always going to be people that are going to PISS YOU OFF. The best way to deal with situations like this is to remember who is relevant.
YOU: Make a list of the people you actually care about. Those are the people that matter. You don't need to worry about the opinions of anyone else. When it comes to rumors, any talk behind your back, etc, it shouldn't matter to you unless it's coming from the people that are on that list you just made. And if it is, then address that issue. Find out what that problem is and deal with it. All other talk you may hear is irrelevant. Smile - anyone who isn't on that list isn't worth your precious time.
I'm smiling.
1. If you have a talent, use it.
Younger me was very, very quiet. I think this was mainly because I was talked down to a lot. Or maybe it was because I didn't receive the encouragement I needed. But I have a gift, or "talent". I can make people laugh. I can't tell jokes, but I'm witty, and I know what phrases to use around certain people to get a giggle out of them. And I am an EXPERT at getting myself to laugh, and I'm sure you are with yourself too. Of recent, if my parents are stressed, or my brother is going through a hard time, I try my hardest to make them feel better, and if laughter will do it, I'll be their Kevin Hart for the night. If I had used this skill when I was younger, back when everything I did was funny, maybe I could have helped a friend through a difficult time.
YOU: You need to use your gifts. If your talent is to sing, find a way to sing to the world! If you can draw, work your artwork into galleries, and onto social networking sites. If you can write, write a book. You CAN do it, and you SHOULD do it, because someone out there will appreciate it.
2. Remember to smile.
When things weren't going so great, I stopped smiling. I wasn't very happy anymore. When things go bad I tend to shut down. Recently I've learnt to not take life too seriously. And sometimes it's just better to laugh than to cry. Girls, don't waste your tears on guys, and vice versa. You're not always going to like your friends. Don't waste time getting angry over things you can't change. Cry, but then remember to stop.
YOU: You need to remember that life isn't something you can do again. You need to be able to enjoy every moment you can. You need to remember to laugh. In the hard times, in the not-so-hard times and when you're feeling burnt out. Remember to pick yourself up when times get hard.
"Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm."
- Audrey Hepburn3. Remember who is relevant.
There's always going to be people that are going to PISS YOU OFF. The best way to deal with situations like this is to remember who is relevant.
YOU: Make a list of the people you actually care about. Those are the people that matter. You don't need to worry about the opinions of anyone else. When it comes to rumors, any talk behind your back, etc, it shouldn't matter to you unless it's coming from the people that are on that list you just made. And if it is, then address that issue. Find out what that problem is and deal with it. All other talk you may hear is irrelevant. Smile - anyone who isn't on that list isn't worth your precious time.
I'm smiling.
4. "You're worth more than that."
My Mum and Dad for years have been drumming this saying into my brother and I. When I was younger, they would often say it without explanation and I'd be confused for days on end. "Worth more than what?", "Why are they saying it now?", "What did I do wrong?" I'd ask myself. It wasn't until a few years ago it finally clicked.
My parents didn't want me to be like everyone else. A statistic. Another number.
My parents didn't (and still don't) want me to become a mother before my time. My parents also want me to value the time I have in education, so I end up in a job I actually want to do. They also want me to look after myself so I don't run into danger when I'm out alone. And there's much more they want. They want only the best for me. But this would be a very long post if I listed everything.
YOU: Need to do the same. Value yourself.
5. Talk to your parents.
You may see them as the old people you live with, or the people that won't stop nagging you to tidy up your room (guilty), but parents may just be one of the best parts of your life - especially if you have parents like mine. They aren't around forever, so spend as much time as you can with them.
When you read that subtitle, I'm sure you thought I was going to ask you to spend time talking to them about all your problems because they have the best advice, blah, blah, blah. I'd be lying if I said I told my parents everything, so you don't have to follow this rule if you don't want to, haha. But I really want you to try and build a relationship with them because they are, in fact, actually just normal people. They have their own problems. They have feelings. And honestly, in reality, at the end of a hard day at work, they might just want to come home and speak to their family. Especially their children. I won't even try and begin to describe the amount of love they have for you.
So sometimes they'll just want to talk.
YOU: It's going to be hard at first, but it's like any new friendship. It takes time for things to get good. But when they're good, they're really good. Don't leave it until you leave home (e.g. for Uni, like I did) to appreciate what you have right in front of you.
Goodnight,
Christina x
Tags: #March8th #InternationalWomensDay #ItGetsBetter #DearMe #SelfEmpowerment #FemaleEmpowerment
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