What I would tell my 15 year old self
Care for others, but care for yourself
Work hard, but make time for play
Learn responsibility, but don’t be too responsible you are too young at 15
Have lots of friends but don’t lose yourself trying to please them all
Sing, dance, keep music in your life for times when there is nothing going on
Have one friend to trust and confide in
Listen to the adults who care about you even in the most unlikely places
Observe how different people go about life making their dream come true
Give your heart but reserve a little of it for your healing when it gets broken
Learn skills that will see you through your life, whether alone or with others
Dream and follow your dream
Don’t be afraid of the future, all will be well in the end
Have faith in some greater power than your own
Ask for advice, help and support when the going gets tough
Share with others your uniqueness as everyone is unique in some way
Learn all you can about as much as you can but not only from books
Experience all you can, but keep safe
You will grow up and the world will seem smaller, but you will find your place in it
Look to:
Nature for refreshment and a place to grow emotionally
The sea, for coolness and to remind us of how tiny we are in the great universe
The woodlands, for music of birds, bees and insects
The sky, for colours unimaginable at dawn and dusk all year round, and for butterflies
The land, for sights of creatures big and small
The rivers, ponds and lakes for tadpoles and frogs and lilies too
Live all this at 15 and one day you will discover the who in you.
Helen Flanagan
