Dear Teenage Me !

My sister Ann sent me this photo of me posing in our garden!! There's no date on it but I'd say I'm in my early teens. Anyway it got me thinking, seeing as I'm celebrating my 60th this week!!!!

It made me think what would 60 year old me say to teenage me in that photo?, what advice would I give that young carefree looking girl with the lovely slim legs and funny haircut!!!

Here goes.

Hi Ber,

It's me Bernie, you don't know it yet but you'll loose being called Ber and become Bernie, it happens a bit later on when you leave home.

Anyway would you look at you, not a wrinkle to be seen ... and those legs, what I wouldn't give to have those legs again, I hate to tell you but they won't always stay that slim... and your face, well it will change with time but you don't know that yet.

And your hair style, cut by yourself I think, you do experiment alot with your hair over the years, you even loose it for awhile!!

And another thing about your hair, eating crusts dosen't make it curly!!

I bet after that photo was taken you jumped off the grass effortlessly....sorry Ber but that changes too!!!

But you don't know that yet, you're young carefree and happy and if you could hear me telling you this stuff you'd probably put your eyes to heaven and prance off laughing at the very idea.

I'm going to imagine that you are listening though so here's what I'd love to say to you.. my beautiful teenage me.

Don't feel that everyone has to like you, try to just be yourself, It's hard being a teenager ... trying to fit in and around people. Don't try too hard because you will loose who you really are.

I'm going to tell you a little secret, everyone around you is trying to fit in too, you might think its just you but it's not, believe me I know !!!!

60 year old me is still trying to figure it all out and 60 year old me is happy to admit that I'm still learning.

That's the magic bit you see... being able to admit that you don't know it all . Now that's something I really do want you to know.

I'd love to tell you all the things you shouldn't do because yes you will make lots of mistakes, but knowing you, knowing me you wouldn't listen anyway.

I'd love to tell you to keep you're mouth shut sometimes and to stop putting your two big feet in into stuff but you wouldn't listen to that either!!

Speaking of feet, I know how much you will hate your size 8 feet and how hard it is for you to get shoes but that gets easier, just wait till you see how much you will learn to love shoes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See I know you too well!!!

I'd love to tell you that you will face many ups but sadly there will be challenges as well.

What I wouldn't give to be able protect you from the bad bits, but if I did that you wouldn't learn anything at all.

What I wouldn't give to reassure you that you will survive and grow from every experience that life throws at you.

By the way don't be afraid to tell the ones you love how much you do because you will loose some of them along the way.

Teenage you isn't sure what you are going to do with your life just yet, but you will become a nurse and do you know what you will never regret your choice.

You'll have great crack, make true friends and discover things like southern comfort, Tequila sunrises and lots more.

I'd love to say don't mix them together but would you listen.....nahhh .

Ignore the people who tell you that you would make a great garda just because you are tall and have big feet, they haven't a clue.

I could go on and on but I realize as I'm writing this that you will find your own way, you will muddle along and if I started telling you things you shouldn't have done I would be saying that 60 year old me has lots of regrets.

Yes; 60 year old me would have done somethings differently but hey I wouldn't be here right now if I couldn't admit that .

60 year old me got alot of stuff right too and as I head out tonight to celebrate my 60th with my family I know that's one of the best bits.

60 year old me has a few extra lines and wrinkles, has a dodgy knee and a few wobbly bits but is doing just fine .

Keep going Ber and just be happy.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx