With only 140 characters allowed on Twitter, I wanted to participate, but decided not to. I had a LOT to say to my teenage self. I didn't want to flood the screens of my twitter followers. Haha! So let me just blog about it.
So here's my 37 year old self, speaking to my then 16 year old NON-SPORTY self...
- DO NOT try that cigarette being handed to you!
- Make healthy choices -- Eat your veggies and avoid fad diets. Establish a good relationship with food.
- You see those white Reebok running shoes? Wear them now, go outside and run. Just do it. You'll know why by the time you get back.
- Now that you've fallen in love with running, start training for your first 5K race. Oh, and welcome to the addiction!
- Don't have a boyfriend yet. He will just be a distraction. Trust me.
- Why did you stop swimming? Go to the country club and hit the pool again. It's now time to take it seriously!
- Props to you for teaching yourself how to swim when you were just 6. But you really should take formal lessons.
- Always use sunscreen. In a few years, you'll know why.
- For your 16th birthday, don't ask for a big party. Ask for a road bike instead.
- In your list of goals, include these... attain (and deserve) the following titles: "marathoner", "triathlete", and "ironman".
- Pray and let God breathe into your plans. He will be with you every step of the way.
- Listen and do everything I just said. You'll thank me later. Guaranteed!
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30 Days of Thanks (Day 6)
I am thankful for my grandparents (Dr. & Mrs. A.G. Reyes) because they were the ones who raised me. They're REALLY special people and great role models and this has profoundly affected who I am as a parent today. I am thankful that they are still with us -- alive and healthy and are able to enjoy spending time with their great grandchildren. Not many adults are lucky enough to have two grandparents in their life. One of my favorite things growing up? -- GRANDPARENTS! I love mine oh-sooooooo much!How about you? If you could talk to your 16 year-old self, what would you say to him/her?
i wish my 17yr old daughter would listen to your advice to your 16 yr old self. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI have thought about things like this before
ReplyDeleteReally liked the just go outside and run.
ReplyDeleteWould definitely tell my 16 year old self the same thing after finding out what it has given to me for the past three years.
i often go back and forth between what i'd tell my younger self if i could. i doubt i would have listened though hahah!
ReplyDeletei do try and insert some of these points when i'm talking to my younger siblings. who knows whether or not they end up hearing me!
Thanks for stopping by my blog and good luck in Vegas! You have such a pretty site!
ReplyDeleteI love this post! It got me thinking about what I would say to my 16-year0old self. And what I would say to my future children, if they'll listen!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing - this is very inspiring and I think it is very well written.
I just found your blog and I love it! What a great list of what you would tell your 16 year old self. Your blog is gorgeous! I would tell myself to not freak out so much about what other people though of me because five years later I only see about 1 or 2 of them:)
ReplyDelete@Sara: Thank you Sara! I'll be dropping by your blog in just a sec. =)
ReplyDelete@Hungry Runner Girl: Thank you too! I've been tweaking it all week, haha! That's a good thing to say to your 16 year old self. I'll be stopping by your blog too. =)
Love the post! Love it!
ReplyDeleteI would keep working out that is good for you and your 41 yrs old shelf will love you for it!
ReplyDeleteI would say : you do NOT need a boyfriend. You should NEVER sit by the phone and wait for a call from some boy who will most likely NOT call!!
Take English classes because you will end up living in the USA where you will raise your kids!
Oh my gosh Julie! This was so fun to read! If we could only really do this....my list would be similar:) The sunscreen comment speaks to me too. My mother warned me and I am a few years older that you. We used baby oil to get our bodies tan! So bad....huge mistake!
ReplyDeleteWords of wisdom - Good post.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the grandparent thing. I would tell myself to spend even more time with my Grandma. She has Alzheimer's Disease and doesn't know who I am anymore. She thinks I'm my mom, which is hilarious because she'll give me a little lecture on being good when I see her. Apparently my mom was mischievous. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd BTW: thank you for always making comments on my blog. You make me feel so special. :)
Good post. Makes me wonder what I should tell myself.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, you can email me the photo at christinahchua@gmail.com
Or do a "race recap" on your blog with your picture, and send me a link to it.