Welcome to the #FridayQuestion: our weekly discussion thread that anyone can join (no paywall here!) and where all (thoughtful, kind) thoughts are welcome.
In honor of Friday the 13th, I have a fun question for you - - “What Advice Would You Give Your 13yr old Self?”
Photo credit: Becky Bekks via Unsplash
For this question, I did a little crowdsourcing. I asked it first on Substack Notes, then on LinkedIn. Here are some of those answers:
“You are worth so much more than your looks, weight or level of attraction to the opposite sex.”
“Keep writing! It really doesn’t matter if you don’t go out with friends or go to school basketball games, choosing instead to stay home and tell your stories. Continue to stay true to yourself. It pays off!”
It’s more important to be safe than be nice.”
“I’d tell 13 year old Tara that just because she doesn’t know anyone who is a doctor doesn’t mean she can’t be one.”
“Hard work is good but knowing when to quit something or someone is just as important.”
What would you add? What advice would you give your 13 year old self?
Leave a comment below.
And this ——>: A former thirteen year old and a mystery solved. this story is chicken soup level good-for-the-soul not to spread around. Also, it’s North Carolina local.
Don’t keep secrets for people who have hurt you. Spend time with people that boost you up and want to see you succeed. Trust your inner voice when it says to stay away from certain people.
3 real pearls here, Ursula! #1 and 2 make rational sense on some level. And I wish at age 13, I'd had the inner voice (or could recognize it) to steer clear of some people! That came much later for me. Thanks for weighing in here!
Idk 13 year old Holly was a silent force, I wonder if any one piece of advice would have served. I wonder if she needed to hear that she is much wiser than she knows and she is capable of great things when she uses her voice to describe her senses. What a great question…
Don’t keep secrets for people who have hurt you. Spend time with people that boost you up and want to see you succeed. Trust your inner voice when it says to stay away from certain people.
3 real pearls here, Ursula! #1 and 2 make rational sense on some level. And I wish at age 13, I'd had the inner voice (or could recognize it) to steer clear of some people! That came much later for me. Thanks for weighing in here!
Lean into the weirdness. If they don't like you when you're weird, they don't like you.
I, I, I LOVE this SO hard, Gloria! Good for all the quirky kids (and adults, lol). Thank you for sharing this gem.
In addition to what I just "noted"- I'd tell my 13-year-old safe, "you're doing great!"
Oh yes, Diahann. Love those simple, important words.
Idk 13 year old Holly was a silent force, I wonder if any one piece of advice would have served. I wonder if she needed to hear that she is much wiser than she knows and she is capable of great things when she uses her voice to describe her senses. What a great question…
“A silent force”! I love that… and the idea linking potential with voice and senses. So powerful, Holly.
Being embarrassed is an opportunity to laugh?
Dang! This is GOLD. How many of us at age 13 were embarrassed by every.little.thing?!! I sure was. Thanks Susannah.
Yes. Learning how to enjoy being embarrassed would have saved me so much anxiety as a young person.
So. much. With you 100% there, Susannah!