Things I'd Tell My Teenage Self

Well hey there,

I've been meaning to make this post for quite a while.  These are all the things I would tell my teenage self (as you can read by the title, obviously).  Not in a way to say I have regrets, I don't, but these are what i've learned from being a teenager.

P.S. Yes, that's me when I was in high school. Although the pictures were taken at Websters Falls.  (Shoutout to my sister and her amazing canon photography taking ways at a young age)

1. Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.  This is a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt that got me through a lot in high school  Bullying is a very real event that is prevalent amongst teenagers.   If it is serious, unbearable and you're genuinely scared, contact a teacher or a parent immediately.  I would advise my younger self to realise that people will call you fat, stupid, and every other colourful word in the dictionary.  It's your choice how you respond to it. The high road is a road less traveled in high school, so go ahead, grab the keys, start the ignition and steer your wheels that way.

2. Leave your eyebrows alone.  Do not over pluck them.  Just get them waxed or threaded.

3. Everybody is fighting their own personal battle that you know nothing about so don't be judgemental.  Sitting in a cafeteria and pointing out to your friend that a certain girl shouldn't have worn those pants, or someone's hair looks greasy is a horrible habit to develop.  When it's done to you, when someone judges your whole character based on a few flaws, it will hurt so don't do it to others.  It's not that hard to be kind.  Just as kindness doesn't mean weakness, being tough or hard or aggressive does not make you superior or strong either.

4. Education is going to make a large impact on your life.  Don't neglect it.  Leaving important tasks to the last minute, taking them too lightly and thinking that education is a waste of time are not qualities of leaders.  It is in your interest to develop good study skills now.  That is correct, they are worth your time and effort.  By the end of high school, believe it or not, you may want to (voluntarily) pursue post-secondary education and it'll be worth a lot more than time and effort (aka money). You might as well take the opportunity now to learn what it takes to excel as a student. (all university students and grads nod in agreement)

5. Drop the f's about physical insecurity.  Yes, I have dark circles.  Yes, my skin pigmentation is not perfect.  Yes, I have curves.  Yes, my cheekbones aren't defined.  AND WHAT? I can still get a 90 on a test, I can still solve complex problems, I can still pursue my hobbies.  An individual is so many things in one day: intelligent, ambitious, organised, polite, focused, charming, quick-witted, conscious, talented, etc. etc.  As a 20-something, my insecurities don't define me.  I am hyper aware of them and always want to better myself.  But, to my teenage self i'd say this: you don't have to be daunted by the act of walking through your high school with a pimple on your face.  Don't put yourself through that kind of torture.

6. That history teacher in your homeroom class with the really sarcastic sense of humour and who you are secretly afraid of might actually save your life one day.  If you're going through something difficult, don't be afraid to approach a teacher, a vp, or a guidance counsellor.  Seek help if you need it, they just won't chase you down to ask you if you need it.  They genuinely care, you have to make the initiative to ask for the guidance.  Teachers are the unsung heroes of the world, just trust me on that.

7. You're allowed to have your own boundaries.  You don't have to like a certain type of music, food, clothing style etc. just because your friend likes it.  Pursue what you like.  Further, you don't have to drink, smoke or date just because your friends are either.

8. Other important things you'll need to get through high school:
A good hairbrush song (shout out to Britney Spears and Shania Twain)
Cookie dough
A good sense of humour/self-awareness (my god, you'll need it)
Family time
A hobby - arts, sports, activism, any extracurriculars
A waking up early, getting ready in 5 minutes because you're going to be late system
A good excuse as to why you're late, not done your assignment, or skipped class etc ;) (let's face it, it'll happen)
Exam writing skills - many people who know the content well can't get a good grade simply because they can't test well, so figure it out and get through it.

9. The best way to get your way with your parents is to listen to them.  If they ask you to come home at a certain time, go home then.  If they ask you to study first and then go out, do that.  If you don't respect that, they won't return the trust.  So when you do stumble home 2 hours past your curfew, don't be surprised if they yell at you, ground you or take away your phone.  So, if you want to go to a certain party or want something from them, you will have to give them what they want too.  Mutual respect, it's a thing.  So honestly, don't abuse your relationship with your parents.  Even when you have nothing in your life, you will still have them.

10. I left the most important thing for the last.  It's something I know adults still struggle with.  Stop caring about what other people think of you.  For the love of god, your life is yours, don't bother trying to please them.  It's easier said than done but something being difficult to achieve is not a reason for you not to try.  Other people's opinions are just that, their opinions.  What matters most is what you think of yourself.

5 Life Hacks for Positive & Productive Mornings

Happy Sunday!

I wanted to share with you some simple ways you can make your morning more efficient.  They are small tasks and also a few things to remind yourself of in the morning that will help set a good tone for the rest of your day.  Lets crack on with it!

1.  Drink a glass to a litre of water as soon as you wake up.  (Hydration, yummy! <3)

2.  Think of 4 things you are thankful for while brushing your teeth.  Look at yourself in the mirror, be affirmative of your intentions.  Gratitude will attract more and more positive outcomes into your life!

3.   Life is what you make it, so intend to make your day good.  Stick your intention even when small negative things happen to you, like missing your train, getting a bad test result, getting into a fight with family.  An intention could take the form of writing out a things-to-do list, having reminders, a calendar, or even being inspired by a motivational quote.

4.  Happiness and positivity is a skill, success is a lifestyle.  Neither is a result of the other.  If you have committed to a long-term goal, know that achieving it is not going to make you happy in the long run.  But being positive on the road to achieving it, will.  So be reminded of that every morning and commit to being positive throughout the day in order to bring success into your life.

5.  Count your blessings.  No one can guarantee that you're going to live another day, let alone live another day being healthy.

I hope this brightens up your mornings.  What are some simple tasks you do in the morning that helps bring positivity into your life?

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A Day Out in the Sun

The last time I spent my time doing nothing but aimlessly frolic in the sun was when I was a little girl.  Something about the clear sky and being in the company of my family took me back to that time.  A time when being in the 'now' was the most valuable.  A time when where we have been and where we are going was not being constantly calculated.  A time when we gave so much power and importance to being selfishly in the present.

Nobody is going to make you see that all you have got is the present.  Today, I was fortunate enough to  have remembered that importance.  For a few very well-lit and unclouded moments, I was able to be in complete peace with it.

What were you up to today?

What made you smile today?

Personal Habits of Successful People

Success is different to everyone.  It also has many facets to it, not just monetary gain.  In this instance, I am specifically talking about success as a result of high productivity and hard work for pursuing a career, your dreams and the like.  I feel that successful people have a few distinct qualities that sets them apart from everyone else.  These qualities are not always intrinsic, they are exercised and learned skills.  It was important for me to write this because being young and ambitious, I have a few of these habits already but not all. People should always strive to be their best version of themselves right?  To me, the best version of myself is when I am productive with my time.  I wrote this list with some of my own knowledge, from books I have read, from observing and being around successful people, and from my father.  This is going to be a great reference for me to look back on and I hope it is to you as well!

• Constantly be doing things.
• Keep a clean and organised desk.
• Make a 'things to do' list for the day, week, month.
• Have an agenda or calendar of important dates and deadlines
• Write out a detailed list of short term and long term goals. Short term goals should always lead to long term goals.
• Schedule your day in blocks.  For instance, write out specifically what you intend to do in blocked time periods. 
• 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM -Breakfast 
• 8:30 AM - 11: 00 AM-Commute to work and respond to e-mails 
• ...and so on and so forth. 
• Have a people collection - contact information of your network and constantly follow up with them regardless of age, occupation or relation.
• Keep up with news and current events regardless of whether it is related to your industry of profession.  
• Have outstanding communication skills.
• Read books.  

Do you already possess a few of these habits?

Are there habits that you have observed and need to be on this list?  Let's share a few!

Finding Light in Darkness

In many ways, hitting rock bottom is the best place to be.  It really matters that you recognise you've reached your lowest point and its okay that you're there.  It's alright to feel a little lost, whether you: don't know what your passion is, know what your passion is but don't know how to get there, working hard but nothing is adding up.  Whatever the case is, know that an individual is always unique in their struggle and any negativity/depression that you feel is valid.

That being said, the most important part about all this is what you do next.  J. K. Rowling gave the commencement address at Harvard University (you might have heard of that university, maybe, its a small little thing :P) in which she said 'and so, rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.'  From my experiences, altering perspective to look at failure as an opportunity for development instead of a disappointment is the best way to be the best version of yourself.

This is why I wanted to write this post, to recognise the importance of failure in growth and to establish the key role that grown plays in reinvention.  To me, growth is like magic.  It's not the type of magic that comes in the form of spells and potions, blessings and saviours nor is it anything like love.  It's that one day you'll look at yourself in the mirror and not recognise who you are, the moment will take you by surprise, and you will realise that you're not who you used to be.  You haven't changed in your fundamental personality or character, you've simply grown as an individual.

As a pick me up, I'll do my next post in this series about growth but I did want to emphasise that once you find light in your struggle, it's just the beginning.