Looking back on my younger self, I see a girl full of questions, worries, and dreams. Life was not simple, and there was reason enough for times of uncertainty and fear. If I could go back and speak to her, there are so many things I would want to say, so much encouragement and advice I wish she had heard.
I would then tell her that she is progressing well even when it doesn't feel that way. Life has its good and bad days, but she's been stronger than she knows. Every small effort she made to be kind to others, even when kindness wasn’t returned, shaped the person I am today. Helping her mother at the market instead of joining her friends to relax or play wasn’t wasted effort. Those small acts of love and responsibility built a foundation for the woman I’ve become.
Then, I’d tell her to stop being so afraid of taking risks. Fear held her back from so many opportunities. I remember one time in school when she knew the answer to a teacher’s question but didn’t speak up, worried that others might laugh if she got it wrong. That moment stayed with her, not because it was a big mistake, but because it taught her how much fear can steal from her life. Mistakes are part of learning. They are lessons in disguise, and I’d tell her to embrace them instead of avoiding them.
I’d remind her to stop comparing herself to others. It’s so easy to look at people who seem confident and successful and feel small. However, her journey is her own journey, and it's perfectly fine if it doesn't 'look the same' as anyone else's. Progress doesn’t always come quickly, but it’s still progress. Having been patient and persistent, she will achieve her objectives.
Another thing I’d want her to know is that not everyone’s opinion matters. Back then, she spent so much energy trying to make everyone like her. She worried about what people thought and often changed parts of herself to fit their expectations. What I know now, and want to have been in her hand, is that the proper ones, the ones who really want the best for her will cherish and affirm her for her true self. She doesn’t have to waste her time to make bad impression on the wrong people.
Passing a grueling exam, seeing someone smile, or learning something new. Those victories, no matter how slight, tell a good story that life is not completely bleak situations.
she will accomplish things she never imagined. Those dreams that feel too big? She’ll achieve them. The fears that feel overwhelming? She’ll overcome them. I’d urge her to believe in herself, even when it feels impossible.
Finally, I’d want her to know that it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to feel lost sometimes. Those emotions do not make her a wimp; they make her a human being. But I’d also tell her not to stay in that place for too long. She is braver and more capable than she realizes. If she takes one step at a time, she will achieve it. And when she gets to that point where she wants no longer to do it all by herself, it is fine to reach out for assistance.
Looking back, I am so proud of the girl she was. Her hardships, her tenacity, even her errors, have all shaped me. She may not know it yet, but she is enough. She always has been, and she always will be.
All images are mine
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
A great read ☺️
Thanks