One of my favorite country singers, Brad Paisley, has a song (Letter to Me) about wanting to write a letter to his 17 year old self. The song is ballad of what he wish he’d known at that age versus the age he is when the song was written. It gave me a prompt to write a blog post about what I’d write to my younger self.
In my teenage years, I had a strong desire to be in a relationship. Like many, I wanted to prove to the world that I was loveable, that someone enjoyed my company, that I was loved for who I was. The men I’d attract often had the same mentality, which didn’t really include my best interests and I often felt like I was taken advantage of. I wish I had told my teenage self that – you will fall in love, but, it would also cause you the most excruciating pain you’d ever experience and it wouldn’t get you very far romantically.
In my teenage years, I had self-esteem problems, worried constantly about whether or not people liked me for my personality. I lacked the confidence that I have now and wished that I had while in high school. While, I still live my life in a lot of solitude, I feel supported by my friends, appreciators and those on-lookers and my fellow collaborators. I wish I could tell my teenage self that I CAN be like those you looked up to in high school, that you can feel supported, appreciated and liked by many.
In my teenage years, I’d worry about whether or not if I was good enough for my field. Whether or not if I’d succeed in what I was trying to do. I spent most of my free time teaching myself graphic and web design so I’d get a head start on my career so when I got to college and finished college, I’d have a dynamite portfolio. I wished I could tell my teenage self that portfolios aren’t the main aspect of a job application, that sometimes a personality helps too (thankfully college took care of that).
In my teenage years, I didn’t have a clue as to who I was, and felt strange following passions or interests that weren’t sociably acceptable… um occult studies anyone? I felt strange pulls towards certain subjects that I wanted to read and study more of. But they were strange for a teenager to be reading about. I wished I could tell my teenage self that embracing the artist personality will help mask those interests as ‘inspirations’. That it is OK to follow what makes your heart sing. That it is OK to be inspired by weird things. It’s just who you are and what makes you unique!
There you have it, those are my wishes that I could’ve told my teenage self.