The Think Write Thursday topic for today is what advice would you give to five year old you? Sixteen year old you? Twenty-one year old you? Right now?
Dear Carole at 5: Remember this moment. It’s Christmas and you’re little and you don’t have a care in the world. Play with your brothers and hug your mom. Be sweet.
Dear Carole at 16: Oh, girl. You think you’re fat and you’re not. Look at those collar bones sticking out. You’re innocent and headed to your first prom and your whole life is before you. Be smart.
Dear Carole at 21: You’ve got it all right now and you don’t even know it. A brand new car. A college degree. A boyfriend (that you don’t have to marry, you know) and the freedom to choose any path you want. Be bold.
Dear Carole at 51: It feels like there are more years behind you than in front right now, doesn’t it? And that’s probably (okay really) true. But with that kind of perspective you can be who you really want to be. You are loved and there are great things in your life. The choices you made all those years ago may not have always been the best ones but they brought you to where you are now and it’s a good place. Be happy.
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Great…really great.
That’ll do, Carole, that’ll do. (Phrase borrowed from movie “Babe,” signifying great praise in a very understated way.)
Just wonderful! I can completely relate to the 16-year-old who thinks she’s fat (but is not) and the 21-year-old who doesn’t know she’s got it all. Five was darn near perfect, but right now looks pretty good, too.
Oh I love this post.
Excellent advice, Carole. All of it. (We were SO. YOUNG.) XOXO
This is really great advice! Especially, the advice to the 16 year old you! (And, great pictures!) And, I see so much of you in Hannah! Wow! Thank you for sharing!
This is wonderful Carole. And Carole at 51…just perfect! xo
Wonderful post, great/fun pictures. Definitely relate to the 16 year old who was sure she was fat (but was not).
You rocked all through your growing up years! Fun post and filled with great advice. Pictures are perfect.
Cheers~
Your letters are universal advice every one of us should/could listen to. You’re a fabulously loving person and one who truly has it all. Love the photos!
The instructions to yourself at the end of each paragraph were interesting. Your focus on positive life experiences was refreshing and interesting since you addd that there were many challenging experiences. It’s nice to know that you are in a good space.
The 21 yo me had the world by a string. I wish I could remember it more clearly. Those were the days.
Well, it is true that youth is wasted on the young! I think it is always great to remember that all of our choices brought us to where we are today, and who knows where we would have ended up if we had not made those choices? Experience and good judgment are found by making mostly bad choices and judgments and learning from them. You are wise to know that right here, right now is the best place, the only one we have. The secret to happiness is wanting what you have; maybe that’s why you are happy, Carole!
Love. Love. Love. and the photos are especially wonderful! cheers to being 50+!
Great post and self-reflection. As someone who’s struggled with weight, collar bones are one of my favourite things to see on myself! And it’s true, everything we’ve been through has made us who we are now.
I love this, I’d definitely tell my 16 and 21 year old selves you can do/be whatever you want, and the world is wide open to you.