Dear Teenage Me...

I've been browsing Dear Teen Me and was inspired to write my 
own letter to myself.

Here's what I would say...

  

Dear Teen Me,

Chill out for a second and enjoy being young! I know, it's so exciting to grow up, be independent, but believe me, you'll miss it when it all changes.

Your best friend Lucy will still be here for you in years to come. Never take her for granted. Don't let distance come between you. Make the effort. 
  Make more of an effort with your sister. She will go through phases before she finds herself. Help her. Tell her she's beautiful, through the goth phase, the emo phase.... 
But when you fall out over the phone call to her boyfriend, don't offer her pizza, unless you want a black eye.

Take photos!!!!!!! Take photos of everything. Save them. Print them. Your diaries are pants, I'm sorry. I don't want to remember what you ate for lunch or which boy you fancied that week. Think about what you'd want to read back 10 years from now. Tell me what you think about life, what you want to do, what your hopes and dreams are... because I have a suspicion that they're going to come true ;)

Big Grandad. Ask him everything. Learn about his life. Make him proud. Tell him how much he means to you. Don't take him for granted. Ever. 

You know you like trampolining? Well keep it up. Go to the YMCA. Work hard at it. I promise you, it'll be worth it. Take it seriously. Eat and sleep it. When Andy mentions diving classes, get over your fear of deep water (there's nothing there, promise) and go for it. He ends up coaching an Olympic medalist in Plymouth. Be part of that.

Don't be so eager to give your heart away. You don't 'love' these people, and won't find you soulmate until you've made some bad choices.

That summer romance will turn sour, so give it up before you get hurt.

Don't stop working at the ice rink. Even when you move to another job, keep the rink on the side. You'll need the money when you finally move out.

YOU MOVE OUT! It's hard work, and you barely scrape rent and bills together. But my God, is it worth it.

TRAIN KIP! When Mum finally lets you get a dog, train him. Trust me, 8 years later when he doesn't pee on the floor when he's excited, you'll be thankful.

Punkyfish clothes do NOT look good, sorry.

That skinny, popular girl in high school? She got pregnant and has loads of kids. She's not happy. Don't aspire to be like that.

You're going to go through a phase that makes no sense to you. Just remember, you end up falling in love with an amazing man. Forget all those other douches.

Appreciate Mum. You're both going to need each other. Appreciate Dad. When Grandad dies, Dad needs you. Be there for him. Don't let him have a midlife crisis.

Stop dying your hair ridiculous colours. Let it grow thick and long. Trust me when I say everyone now wishes they'd done that. Including you. 

You want to know a secret? You've got a degree. In fact, you've nearly got two degrees. You can, and are, a bright, intelligent person. You have no idea of the things you'll achieve. 

  You worry too much about the future. Enjoy the present. You WILL find a man. You WILL fall in love. You WILL plan a future together. And you might have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince, but trust me, it's more than worth it. He's more than worth it. 

What seems hard now will end up being the greatest time of your life.

Us x