Advice To My 20 Year Younger Self
As the blog tour for Is This All There Is? winds down, I have so many people to thank (Samantha March for her outstanding blog tour organizing/promoting skills & kindness, all the bloggers who hosted me, friends who read and commented on tour stops). Is This All There Is? Blog Tour Page
Today was a very busy and exhausting day. I facilitated a leadership training program for a group of professionals I hold in the highest esteem for the work they do advocating for foster youth in the nonprofit organization they work for.
As I drove home for an hour and a half in traffic, I realized that I didn’t have anything prepared for my blog today. I’ve posted every Thursday since November 15 and though I have very few followers, I don’t want to let even one down. It’s also some kind of strange commitment to myself, though I don’t know how long I can keep it up…
As I just reviewed my tour posts, I realized I created a guest post that ended up not being used. I’m not saying it’s great. In fact, it’s probably not very good because the blogger decided not to use it (read with a tone of sarcasm, not self-pity). But it’s something I can use here, thankfully, because my old brain is all used up for today. So here it is.
After 20 years of marriage, 16 years as a mom, and many unexpected twists and turns on the road of life, I decided to come up with a few pieces of advice I would share if I could go back in time and have a chat with my twenty year younger self. I’d love to know what advice you’d give yourself if you could do the same.
- When you feel upset or sad, tell your husband, don’t take it out on him.
- Your kids are going to do things that drive you crazy. It’s normal. You’re the grown up. Develop patience and grace. Don’t yell or criticize. Teach and model.
- Remember to laugh a lot. Don’t take it all so seriously. Let little things go.
- Don’t wait to express your love. You never know how much time someone has.
- When you’re in a slump, read an uplifting book to help pull you out of it.
- Live in the present. The next stage may sound better, but now is always the best.
- Never feel fat – at any weight. Be healthy, active, and satiated. Feel beautiful.
- Don’t neglect your friends. They provide something your family can’t.
- Give lots of hugs and kisses. Use physical touch as medicine. Sex is good too.
- Admit your mistakes, ask for and grant forgiveness, always, for your own healing.