Top 50 Things I’d Love to Tell My Younger Self

Ever think about what it would be like to go back in time and have a talk with yourself? I do!  I wonder if it would help me avoid some mistakes and habits that haven’t always been helpful…

I was married just a few weeks after I turned 22, and that means I have been married for 26 years (so now you know how old I am 😛 ).  I’ve been a mother for 20 years this December, and every day I feel like I have more and more growing and changing to do.  While that’s true, if I had the opportunity, I would love to whisper in my 22 year old ears a few things that I HAVE learned, experienced, and even regretted over the journey of almost three decades since I left home, and became a “grown up.”

My list is a bit random, like my 48 year old mind can be, some are said tongue in cheek, and others are as serious as a heart attack, but for good or bad, they make up the crazy workings of my mind and heart.

1. Read your Bible and pray EVERY DAY, you need it like you need oxygen and water!
2. Relax more, you tend to get too worked up about insignificant things.
3. Don’t give in to fear, it only makes things worse, and creates bad habits that are hard to break.
   
4. Don’t expect your future husband to be perfect, be gentle and kind to him; he’s not invincible.
5. Words are incredibly powerful either for good or bad, so think BEFORE you speak.
   
6. Have fun, don’t be so serious all the time.
7. Don’t read into what you THINK people are thinking, because you likely may be wrong.
   
8. When you stop nursing, modify your calories, so you don’t gain weight IN BETWEEN your pregnancies…can’t blame it on the baby then….  😛
9. Try harder to stick to the budget you worked so hard at making.
10. Don’t wait so long in between your first and second children, 7 years was too long.
11. Buy a house sooner rather than later, instead of spending so much on rent.
12. Thank God every day for your honorable and frugal husband, who isn’t frivolous with money.
13. Make family time a priority, you won’t regret it.
14. Don’t be so critical of others, you may not know what’s going on in their lives.
    
15. Reach out to people and make friends, don’t isolate yourself.
16. Even though it’s not your personality, take some risks.
17. Don’t buy so many clothes, it’s kind of a waste.
    
18. Work at maintaining organization, it pays off.
19. A small mess is way easier to take care of, than if you wait, because it becomes a BIGGER mess.
20. Soak in all the hugs and snuggles of your kids, and be more patient with them, they’re not adults.
    
21. Teach your children to swim, tie their shoes, cook, and ride a bike earlier, rather than later.
22. Everything in life is not black or white, there is lots of gray.
23. Parenting is a constant ongoing learning experience, be a little open minded.
24. Teach your kids to do chores earlier and often, you’ll be less frazzled and they will learn discipline and skills.  🙂
25. Learn to say “I’m sorry” to others, sooner and more often.
26. Crochet more, play the piano more, listen to music more.
27. Color with your children lots and lots.
28. Learn to love some outdoor activities, you need the fresh air, and so do the kids!
29. Drink more water.
30. Eat way less french fries, and PLEASE learn to like exercising.
31. Instead of buying so many THINGS for loved ones, make MEMORIES together.
32. Start drinking coffee earlier, you don’t know what you’re missing!
33. Learn to be an early bird, so you’ll have some time to yourself.
34. Push yourself more, don’t give up so easily.
35. When your husband wants to hug you, don’t brush him off because you’re busy.
    
36. There are seasons of focus in life, you can’t do it all, ALL at the same time.
37. Spend less time on the computer, that’s not how you want your kids to remember you.
38. Have some TV FREE nights for goodness sakes.
39. Be a little more trusting and not quite so cynical.
40. Face your fears or they multiply.
41. Make memorizing Scripture a habit.
42. Don’t hang on to grudges, it ends up hurting you the most.
43. Forgive generously, as you certainly want people to do for you.
    
44. When your kids want to talk, listen attentively and make eye contact.
    
45. Instead of instantly saying “no” to your children, give it some thought first.
46. Be good company for your husband, and listen to what he has to say.
47. Ask for the things you need from your husband, he can’t read your mind.
48. When you can, take some time for yourself. An empty vessel has nothing to give.
49. Remind yourself that if God can love and forgive you, you should love and forgive yourself also.
50. Remember that God promises to ALWAYS be with you, and that includes in the future too, whatever it may hold.