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.

 

  1. When you feel upset or sad, tell your husband, don’t take it out on him.
  2. 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.
  3. Remember to laugh a lot. Don’t take it all so seriously. Let little things go.
  4. Don’t wait to express your love. You never know how much time someone has.
  5. When you’re in a slump, read an uplifting book to help pull you out of it.
  6. Live in the present. The next stage may sound better, but now is always the best.
  7. Never feel fat – at any weight. Be healthy, active, and satiated. Feel beautiful.
  8. Don’t neglect your friends. They provide something your family can’t.
  9. Give lots of hugs and kisses. Use physical touch as medicine. Sex is good too.
  10. Admit your mistakes, ask for and grant forgiveness, always, for your own healing.