Happy Wednesday everyone! I’m back with another blog post for y’all, and I thought I should throw it back a little and get nostalgic in this one. Between spending time with Christy Turlington and becoming more involved in her non-profit, Every Mother Counts, and teaming up with Latham Thomas to give away 5 scholarships for the doula immersion program taking place in Miami on November 15th – November 17th, I’ve definitely been speaking a lot about my motherhood experience. …But do you ever just sit back and think about what you were like as a teenager?
Is there anything that you would tell your younger self? I definitely would! If I could go back in time, I would approach everything from my health to my relationships with others a bit differently. Here, I’m sharing a list of things that I would share with my teen self and I hope you can relate to it too!
You’re Smart and Capable
I think everyone can relate to this one. There’s something about being in your teenage years and being so hard on yourself, and sometimes even too critical. But why? Instead of being filled with doubt over my abilities and goals, I would tell my younger self to enjoy herself a little more. Causing stress and being insecure just isn’t worth it.
Love Your Body
I believe that how you look at your body in your teens can really set the tone for loving yourself and accepting yourself for the rest of your life. Trust me, I know the pressure of wanting to look perfect all the time, but perfection literally doesn’t exist. We’re all beautiful and so are all of our bodies. Treat yourself, love yourself, and be kind to your body. It is your temple after all.
Stop Worrying About Being “Cool”
I can’t stress this enough and I feel like this one hits today’s teenagers a lot harder because of social media. The desire to look “cool” and be “cool” is pointless once you reach adulthood. Sure, maybe you couldn’t get the latest pair of shoes that every other girl was wearing, but will that matter in a few years? Absolutely not.
Having FOMO Isn’t the End of the World
Like most teenage girls, I hated missing out on things. I wanted to be everywhere with everyone all the time, but that just wasn’t possible. I think that the fear of missing out hits all of us pretty hard at one point or another, but sometimes it’s a good thing! There were instances where I could’ve been at the wrong place at the wrong time, or I genuinely needed to sit back and rest. It’s really not the end of the world.
Drama is Pointless
Teenage drama is the worst! Why did I spend so much time worrying about such petty little things? Because we all did! We’re all guilty of this one, but at the end of the day, the drama is pointless. Focus on getting along!
Forget About Boys
It’s funny because these are the years where we’re all boy or girl-crazy. The truth is that high school boys are silly and while I definitely believe in young love, I don’t believe in young heartbreak. It’s such a sucky experience to go through, and sadly a lot of us deal with it. I’d tell myself that the boys are nice and all, but I’m my number one priority right now.
Your Health Should Be a Priority
Teens don’t talk about health enough, and I mean both mental and physical health. High school years put a lot of pressure on us, and I wish I had taken the time to really listen to what my mind and body needed. I was definitely active, but I feel like teenagers don’t acknowledge the fact that they experience burnout too!
I’ve been thinking a lot about how I can raise my baby girls to understand these things as they grow up. I do my best, every day, to help my girls grasp the things that I didn’t without putting too much pressure on them- so I hope this list was helpful for you no matter what age you are 💛
