"Hey You, 15 Year Old Helen!"

I am trying to participate in a month long blogging extravaganza over at NaBloWriMo, (thanks for the nudge Square Toothed Girl).

So far I am falling behind, and it is only the 5th of the month.  Oh well.

Yesterday's prompt, if we so choose to use it was "what advice would you give your 15 year old self?"

I have racked my brain for the last 24 hours over what I would say to myself. I am not sure I would change a whole lot. You know, that whole bit about the how the culmination of your life's choices and experiences makes you who you are today? Well I believe it.

I liked who I was at 15. I like who I am now at 28. Missteps and all.

However, I did come up with just a couple tid bits of advice for myself at 15.

1) You are going to want to pick endlessly at that welt of a zit on your left cheek bone. DO. NOT. DO. IT. Stop right now, remove your pinch-happy fingers from your face, and walk away from the bathroom mirror. It will not produce some impressive and shocking puss ball for you to gawk at, it will only produce a deep  and lasting divot in your skin that you will notice often years from now.

2) Take an art class. Don't be afraid, just do it. I know you think you are not "artsy" enough, "edgy" enough, or "creative" enough. But you are enough. You are enough to try out anything you are interested in. With one caveat however, I know you are signed up to take debate your first semester in high school. I know you think you are interested in this, but you are not. Get out. Get out of it now! You will loathe that experience entirely. I feel like throwing up just thinking about it.

3) Don't expect so much maturity from the guys you date. Most of the guys you will date are going to be great. Just please remember that they are young, so stop expecting them have the maturity of a grown man. Expect them to be kind, fun, respectful, and to love being with you. Other then that, just have fun and don't let your mind get to serious about it all!

4) I would also tell myself that the next 13 years are going to be really good and hard. But mostly just really good. Your heart is going to get broken a few times. It is okay. You are going to be better than fine. Life will change. Some of the changes you will actually be grateful for, others you will miss. Keep being yourself through it all.

I can only hope that the next 13 years will be just as good, and maybe even better than the last.

So be calm 28 year old Helen. Life is going to be really good, and hard. That is the way it is meant to be. Sometimes in the ride of life you have to hold on tight, and sometimes you have to learn how to let go. So pay attention and enjoy what you have, while you have it.