Things I'd Tell My 15 Year Old Self Today

I have seen these letters going around in the blog world, each person seems to choose an age that is pertinent to them.  Fifteen was one of the first huge change years for me that I remember.  It was the year I entered high school, it was the year I fell for a boy that I ended up falling in love with 33 years later, we later became the best of friends and it was the year my father found out that Ruth was abusing us with words, fear and violence. For the first time in my life my father stood up, made a decision and left Ruth for good.

So, what would I tell my 15 year old self today:

One that none of those kids that I went to school with matter when I'm older, all those days of feeling inadequate and being judged by my peers are meaningless to me when I grew up.  They were just as scared as I was and I am grateful that I didn't make anyone feel the way they made me feel.  I am sure as they grew, they have their own guilt... I would tell myself to worry less about what those kids thought of me.

Two, sometimes the past should remain in the past... sometimes when you let the past in, it could destroy your future... mine almost did.  Even today... I wonder if I will ever get to a point that I won't feel like I made the biggest mistake of my life allowing the past to catch up to my present.  I would tell my 15 year old self not to believe everything you see in front of you, people have masks of who they want you to see...  I found that out the hard way a couple of times in my life ...
Three, I would tell myself to love myself more... and that I deserved better than I ever allowed myself to expect.  I never raised the bar high enough, I kept my little dreams instead of making bigger dreams... because I never thought I could do better.  I can do better though, I know I certainly deserve better... I settled one to many times and today I will never settle again.

Four, I would tell myself to dream and to chase those dreams, life is too short it goes by quicker than any of us think.  I would also tell me to choose better friends, I have chosen a few people in my life that make me question what I was thinking... I would tell me to love more and not be afraid to go after what I want.

I tell my 50 year old self these things all the time now, I am going to chase my dreams... I am not going to settle for less, I don't care what other people think of my choices and mostly I am going to open myself up to love... for once in my life, I deserve the guy... the guy who will love me and only me.  The honest, kind, sweet guy... The bar has been raised and I won't be lowering it for anyone.
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95 comments :

  1. I enjoyed reading this. I wish we could all go back in time and change things.
    Effortlesslady.blogspot.ca

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    1. Thank you Diana.. I sometimes think that but if we could, we might change the outcome... not sure I would really want to do that... something to think about :-/

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  2. I like this kind of posts. Very inspirational
    =)
    new post: http://tupersonalshopperviajero.blogspot.com.es/2014/01/my-new-oasap-dress.html

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  3. There are such a beautiful messages for your lucky daughter to learn and following her challenge all the way. what exactly how I am to my boys too. Isn't that easy for being a loving, a good role of our children model? No, but the hard work is pay off is as sweet as the honey. You and your daughter are will too Launna because you're a wonderful Mom. xx

    http://www.attraction2fashion.com

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    1. Thank you Tanya, although... I do wish I was a much better mama than I am, it is never easy balancing life ... Have an awesome week <3 xox

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  4. Beautiful letter full of thoughts and poetry! Congratulations, my friend

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    1. Thank you Armando, I hope you are having a great week :)

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  5. Awww! This is sooo inspiring!!! I shall take this blogpost as a life lesson!! Thank you soo much Launna!

    http://anshul90.com

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    1. Thank you Anshul... I take it as a life lesson daily too... I need to remember I deserve the best :) So do you <3

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  6. Very inspiring, love the different letters!

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    1. Thank you Suze... I think we should all write a letter to our younger self... great way to reflect :)

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  7. wow,enjoy reading your posts so inspiring.love the second quote most
    kisses

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    1. Thank yoy so much Glamour Zone... I adore quotes ;-)

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  8. Beautiful letter, very inspiring!

    www.reinadelamoda.nl

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  9. This post was so deep and heartfelt. I really enjoyed reading this. I want to do a post like this, and I'm sure a lot of what I would say would be similar to the things you said. 15 was a REALLY monumental year in my life as well. I lost my virginity (yikes...way too young), fell in love for the first time, learned what domestic violence was first-hand, tried a drug for the first time that would absolutely destroy the next few years of my life....it was a crazy year that absolutely affected my future but I learned so much at the same time. I'm sorry to hear about the abuse from Ruth, I'm assuming that was your stepmother?? I dealt with extreme emotional and some physical abuse from my own mom, so I can relate. Regardless of everything that happened in your life, you've grown to be an extremely strong, beautiful woman and you should be proud of yourself for that. You've overcome so many obstacles and didn't let anything get in your way. You are an amazing inspiration to me and I love reading your blog. :)

    xo, Sarah
    Hustla, baby.

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    1. Thank you Sarah... for sharing your story... WOW... you've come a long way too♡♥♡

      Ruth was my step mother and she was extremely abusive...many of us grew up with. that.

      I don't always feel strong... but I keep moving forward... it's all that I can do ;-)

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  10. What a beautiful post Launna, a great message for your daughter and wonderful words for everyone... you are very talented, congrats my friend!!!!
    Have a lovely day darling!!! Kiss

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    1. Awe thank you Paola...you are the sweetest girl... I adore your comments. You are beautiful on the inside and out ♥

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  11. Very thought-provoking Launna. I would give anything to go back in time and talk to my 15-year-old self :)

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    1. Thank you Keith... I think it would be interesting...but not sure I would go back... I could mess it up more;-)

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  12. The past should remain past... Is that easy? Does it work that way? Each dead past has to be replaced by a better living future. Amen :)

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    1. Thank you Rajesh... it's not easy keeping the past in the past... but I'm working on it... :-/

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  13. My 15-yr old self was a brat and wouldn't have listened to a word that I said at this age. :)

    If I knew it was my future me... maybe I'd have listened, but maybe not. ;)

    That school of hard knocks is sure a good teacher, but good teaching is how we learn, yes? :)

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    1. Thank you Rosey... the school of hard knocks is awful... I guess it is the only way I learn... :-/

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  14. Thank you Hina... I will visit and follow you :-)

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  15. You definitely deserve the best now and in future and you did deserve the best even at fifteen, no matter what any one said.

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    1. Thank you Munir.. we all deserve the best... it isn't always easy believing that ♥

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  16. definitely you deserve the best sweety ;)
    www.sandicious.blogspot.com

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  17. hi launna,i always love your post!
    I posted a new article, I'd love to know your opinion
    would you like to pass from my blog?
    tr3ndygirl.com
    kiss

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  18. You are much wiser now and that is some wonderful wisdom for 15 year old year. As for bad choices in friends -- I think those choices are sometimes because it is all we feel we deserve, too! Just like everything else -- you/we deserve better! Hang in there!

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    1. Thank you Kc... it's terrible that we ever feel like we deserve so little :-/

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  19. I think these ideas are so creative and thought provoking. It would be nice to have this advice way back when!!
    www.amemoryofus.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you Darcy... it would have been nice to know some of this....

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  20. This sounds like good advice to anyone of any age. Hindsight is pretty clear, isn't it. I know I feel that way too, that I wish I had known better about a lot of things back then and had made better choices.

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    1. Thank you Daisy..some choices I have made have led to such terrible heartheache... I keep looking for the growth opportunity ... :-/

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  21. aww I really love this post. Maybe as for me, the day I returned to college, I pretty much screwed up because I stopped and so on, but looking back now, I really dread it and if only I could turn back time(cliche I know, but that's the truth) I would do otherwise. But all of it belongs to past now. But ofcourse, there are nights and days when I didn't think of it though. thanks for sharing! and thanmk you for always visitng my blog, you're always the one who never fails to visit my blog and for that I deeply grateful and thankful.

    keep in touch.

    loves,
    ellie

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    1. Thank you Ellie, when I follow someone's blog, I really like to follow them and comment too ;-)

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  22. Amazing Letter! Your Words go straight to my heart

    big Hugs ,have a great Day <3

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  23. Just awesome Letter Launna!!! <3 Loving it :))) Touched, again, me and so many!

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  24. love the last quote dear :D

    WWW.PUTRIVALENTINALIM.BLOGSPOT.COM

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  25. I'm willing to bet a lot of us would go back to different ages and tell ourselves some of the same above. I'd like to go back and tell my 15 year old self that I'd be eligible for a scholarship in two years based on a excellent writing in an essay but that my grades would keep me from getting it - STUDY and get that gpa up. Biggest regret of my life.

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    1. Thank you Kenya.. it is usually one defining moment... now that I of it I don't think I would want to tell my 15 year old self anything, I see how I came so far because of those trials I endured but I would love to go back to my 47 year old self and tell her to wait... there would have been a better time... :-/

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  26. I'm only (?) 26 but I can definitely come up with a few things to tell me old self. That's just life I think. You will always make mistakes, it's inevitable. But as long as you learn from them it's fine.

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    1. Thank you kissandmakeup, it's that some of those decisions though change your future an not the greatest changes... unfortunately we have to go with them as there is no going back... :-/

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  27. Great post Luanna and you're so right not to let the past matter or catch up with you and it sounds like that was a big one for you - also you're so right about not worrying about anyone is school or what they think. :) Hopefully some mom's out there will show this post to their 15 year old daughters. :) I wish I knew all this when I was 15. Nicely written as usual. :) xoDale
    www.savvyspice.com

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    1. Awe thank you Dale, I wish even one fifteen year old would be reached by this post...

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  28. Great post!)
    would you like to follow each other?Let me know!
    <3
    http://irinabulgakova.blogspot.ru/

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  29. Ciao Launna!!!
    A lot of kisses for you and your daughter from Italy!!!!

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    1. Thank you my sweet Paola... hugs and kisses from Canada xox <3

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  30. Beautiful post! x

    http://fashionsectionbylory.blogspot.com/

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  31. Yeah! You go, girl! We take ourselves and life FAR too seriously when we're young. I still take it far too seriously. I would tell myself to laugh more, cry more, and seize the moment every time it arises. Life is too short to waste on wishing, and I love that old adage, "I shot for the stars and hit the mountain tops. Good thing I wasn't aiming for the mountain tops."

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    1. Thank you Crystal, we really do take ourselves too seriously.. we need to have more fun and go for our dreams :)

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  32. Have a wonderful day to a wonderful Launna:). big hugs!

    http://www.attraction2fashion.com

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    1. Thank you so much my sweet Tanya... I hope you're having an amazing day ♡

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  33. Amiga boa noite, um post maravilhoso e super
    interessante. Sucesso.
    http://arrasandonobatomvermelho.blogspot.com.br

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    1. Obrigado Nequéren, você é tão gentil ... :)

      Thank you Nequéren, you are so kind... :)

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  34. yeah that's why i deleted my comment of course we are following each other lol
    what a great idea writing a letter to your past self! this post inspires me to do the same but instead of past but my future self! ^_^

    visit my blog ^_^
    www.LuchLuchCraft.com
    My online store ^_^
    www.TokoLuchLuchCraft.biz

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    1. Thank you Inge... that is a great idea, writing a letter to your future self ♡

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  35. It's so true most of us were teased in junior high and sometimes all through highschool as well. All the stress and time spent wasted on people you likely will never see or talk to after high school is just that a waste but at the time can be a persons whole world. Great post

    www.highheelsandtutus.com

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    1. Thank you Jodi, it does seem like school is your whole world at the time but luckily it is much shorter than we think...

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  36. This is so helpful and beautiful,thank you!:)

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  37. beautiful words dear!
    i wish you a wonderful week!

    <3
    http://www.getcarriedaway.net/

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    1. Thank you getcarriedaway, I hope you have a wonderful week too <3

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  38. That's right! You have to do what you want and don't care about what other people say. I'm trying to do the same :)
    Thank you for all the sweet comments on my blog!!

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    1. Thank you Marion... we need to be ourselves first and foremost :-) ... you are welcome for the comments ♡

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  39. I am so glad that you are telling yourself those things now. I know, not only are you telling Valentina those things, you are living them for her to see. She is at a very impressionable age and you are showing her what a strong woman can accomplish. I love the post!

    Not sure how I missed this one again. I keep looking for them and sometimes it takes me a few days to notice when you have posted.

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    1. Thank you Betty, I think since I only post about once a week now, it takes longer to come up in the feed :)

      Not sure that I am all that strong, I try to be... I hope I am a good role model...

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    1. Thank you Kenny, you are always so nice to me, I really appreciate your comments :)

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  41. Beautiful letter dear!! :) You always inspire
    me! People can learn from you :)

    xoxo
    www.its-dash.com

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  42. so touching. and yeah I agree with not settling for less.. it's hard to not during those times but we have to have faith that everything would work out I suppose. so inspiring :)

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    1. Thank you Pop... isn't it hard to have Faith... ? I want to be better at that... :)

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  43. Really wonderful post
    The past is the past
    Now is the time to go in the future

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    1. Thank you Muya... yes the past is the past... :-/

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  44. Good for you!!! Moving forward and getting stronger every day!

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    1. Thank you Marcia, I cannot wait to feel stronger one day soon...:)

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I love and appreciate all genuine comments, to save a little time, I won't be commenting on the comments on my blog (unless you don't have a blog), I will just visit your blog and comment there, if you have left a meaningful comment for me... I would much rather spend the time reading and commenting on a few extra blogs ❤