logo

15 things I'd tell my teen-aged self

If only I knew then what I know now... The notion of being able to go back in time and do some things differently is an intriguing one. Not all of us would want a do-over, but certainly all of us could have benefited from having the knowledge and life experiences we have now. What kind of wisdom would you impart on your teen-aged self if you had the opportunity? Scroll through the slide show for a look at the things SimplyAimee and SimplyHannah would tell the younger versions of themselves.

15 Things I'd tell My Teen-aged Self

  1. No one is better than you, or lesser. Don’t judge or make assumptions about others, you don’t walk in their shoes. -SimplyAimee
  2. Your future really is closer than you think. Don’t dismiss those college applications, core classes and extracurricular activities. It’s great to live in the moment, but the decisions you make now will ultimately set you up for the first steps towards your future. -SimplyHannah
  3. Follow the Golden Rule…Be kind to everyone, especially those who need it. For those who treat you unkindly, refer back to number one. -SimplyAimee
  4. It’s okay to spend time alone. It’s okay to fear the idea of going ‘stag’ to an event; however, separating yourself from your peers helps you learn to become an individual. By learning to think for yourself, when you lose or have a relationship change you are able to recover easier because you have an idea of who you are and where you’re going. -SimplyHannah
  5. You look great the way you are. Don’t focus on what you dislike about yourself physically. Trust me, in twenty years you will look back at photos of yourself and realize how silly you were to be critical. -SimplyAimee
  6. Time will go too fast. You hear it all the time, but it's true. (If you’ve procrastinated on homework, you might have an idea what I’m talking about). So take advantage of all the opportunities that come your way. Soak in the little things. -SimplyHannah
  7. Talk about others as though they are standing behind you and you don’t know it. If you have something critical to say that’s fine, just say it as though they are listening, because it will undoubtedly get back to them. Gossip tears people down, whereas praise builds them up. -SimplyAimee
  8. Want to be treated like an adult, start acting like one. Start taking on responsibilities. If you have a problem too big, communicate with a trusted adult. This is a time for you to practice and learn what it takes because you will not always be able to pause in the middle of a situation and call your mom and ask her what to do. Take this time to figure out what being an adult is all about. -SimplyHannah
  9. You can only control what you do (and how you respond to things), not the actions of anyone else. Let go of the frustration of others not doing what you want, as we all have freewill. You worry about you. -SimplyAimee
  10. Nothing is too big that you can’t tell your parents. You won’t understand unconditional love until you become a parent, but trust them when they say, nothing is too bad/big/scary/etc that your parents will stop loving you. You’re still a child, there are certain things you are not equipped to handle alone and your parents are ready and waiting for the opportunity to jump in! -SimplyHannah
  11. Time does heal wounds. What seems like a big deal right now will almost always be a much lesser deal before you know it. -SimplyAimee
  12. Stand up for what you believe in. People will respect you much more than they will if you are a follower. The unpopular but upstanding choices you make will be the ones you remember and will be most proud of as you grow up. -SimplyAimee
  13. Put time and effort in to things that you are interested in, especially if those things are challenging. Whether it’s a foreign language, a musical instrument or a sport… You will NEVER be sorry you stepped up to a challenge. You WILL be sorry you gave up. -SimplyAimee
  14. Your parents are your best advocates. They actually have been through the same things you have been through, and understand more than you know. -SimplyAimee
  15. You are on your way to bigger and better things in life. Your life will be exactly what YOU make of it… no one else can or will make you happy or determine your path. Have faith in yourself and go for it! -SimplyAimee