Marina Larina
I would tell her: believe in yourself and trust life. The things you’re scared of now — the challenges you think you could never handle — will become the experiences that shape you into your strongest, happiest self. Life will take you places you never imagined, and you’ll grow in ways you didn’t think were possible. Read more>>
Brandon Elliott
One kind thing I would say to my younger self would be to “have grace”. Sometimes being hard on yourself can create more issues than not. However having grace can heal, create patience, better understanding for things you would be hard on yourself about. Read more>>
Anjala B
Oh, to be able to speak to my younger self. I would be so emotional, it might not come out. But if I could, I would tell her that she won’t be looked past forever. She won’t be talked over forever. She won’t always be passive. She won’t always be a people-pleaser. The hard days will pass before you know it beloved. Read more>>
Chris Balgos
Invest, invest and invest LoL. Financially; giving money a chance to grow while you sleep, especially at a younger age can yield amazing results. I started investing at a later age and wish I had known what I now know at an earlier age. Read more>>
Amrit Hansra
If we could say one kind thing to our younger selves, it would be: *Be gentle with yourself, and don’t dim who you are to fit anyone else’s expectations.* You don’t need to apologize for your curiosity, your creativity, or the way you see the world—those parts of you are your superpowers. Read more>>
Alyssa Franco
I’d tell her, ‘You have no idea how capable you are. All those little creative projects you do for fun? They’re not silly — they’re hints of the business you’re going to build one day. Don’t ignore them just because they don’t fit the “safe” or “practical” path everyone talks about. You don’t have to wait for permission to pursue what lights you up. Read more>>
Stephanie Ricardo
I wish I had understood much earlier that I was never selfish, and I was never asking for too much. It is okay to want happiness, joy, and peace. Anyone who shamed me for having needs or desires wasn’t telling me the truth—they were manipulating me into believing I was a bad person. Read more>>
Dallas Denoo
Go for your dreams. Don’t do what everybody expects you to do. I didn’t know for years what I truly wanted to do, but I knew what I was doing was not making me happy. It wasn’t until I realized that photography was my passion and I listened to MYSELF that I started to love my job. Read more>>
Rane Rose
I would tell my younger self: “It’s okay to not have all the answers right now, and it’s okay to fail — the lessons are what matter, not the mistakes themselves.” Early on, I felt a constant pressure to have everything figured out, to be perfect, and to prove myself at every turn. Read more>>
M.K. Collings
Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t have what it takes to follow your dreams. When others say you shouldn’t try because you’ll fail, you show them they’re wrong. You can create your happily-ever-after. The monster doesn’t win in the end, the hero does. YOU win. Push for your dreams, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Read more>>
Sarah Salvatoriello
You don’t need to earn rest, and you don’t need to prove your worth through output. The work will always be there — but the joy, curiosity, and weird little sparks that make you you deserve your attention, too. Oh, and the thing you think makes you “too much”? That’s actually your edge. Don’t sand it down. Read more>>
Tammy Takaishi
Oh gosh, this is a heavy one, but such a great question! I would tell my younger self not to feel bad about certain choices made. I’d say that I was doing the best with the information I had at the time, and the kind of person I was at the time. Read more>>
Jillian Vitko
One of the songs I wrote for the Synesthesia Story album is called “Song to My Childhood Self.” The story of the film is based on my life experiences, and it was really healing to write this song. Some lyrics: “Would you be proud of me? This small amount of me? / Have I spun gold out of straw? Read more>>
