Recently, I received a private inquiry as to why I do not blog more self-discovery prompts. Truthfully— I severely dislike the generalizations of most self-discovery prompts. Most of them are mundane, bleak or fall into the ‘about me’ category. I also find the answers to be brutally blunt and often contradictory.

But because people want to know— here’s an all inclusive blog post. Saturday Self Help is now live.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Of course the rando-roll would pump this prompt out. Where to start!!!

1. Competition isn’t everything. You don’t need to be the fastest, smartest or prettiest to achieve your goals. You just need to focus.

2. The anger never dies away. Don’t treat your family like shit. Your Mom and Dad adopted you so that you would have a better life. The time will come when you will have the chance to discover your biological roots. It won’t help with the anger or the unanswered questions— and you’ll end up more confused and frustrated than you were before.

3. Don’t volunteer a combat role. Solid advise for anyone thinking of enlisting. Yes, retiring by 40 sounds great— but your body will be beat up, broken down and better sold as ground chuck— and your mind will become home to the demons that can only plague those who involuntary invite them in. Once they nest, there will be a shadow over your mind— and darkness even in the best of times.

4. Don’t marry overseas. Infact, don’t marry until you’ve had some independence. You do not need to be reliant on anyone else. Pave your own path— you don’t need someone else’s stepping stones.

5. Other people— especially men— will belittle and offend you because you are beautiful. Sexism is a very real thing. With your blond hair, blue eyes and baby face— you will get the brunt of it. Society is going to judge you based on your appearance anyways. You can thank famous blonds like Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole Smith for the ‘dumb blond’ title- primarily because most people don’t understand that both of the ladies were behind the scenes girl bosses.

6. For the entirety of your life, people will assume you are LGBQT+. Don’t get offended! Wear your hair short because it’s more comfortable, play football because your better than the boys. Do the damn thing. When everyone else is getting significant others— right around puberty— there isn’t anything wrong with you. It’s just not your time.

7. Trust your instincts, always. You’re going to get in trouble. Don’t let it stop you. Experience youthfulness fully. We all get grounded, we all have issues with the volume of our voice at times. Oh, and the excuse of ‘because I felt like it’ does absolutely nothing to help your cause.

8. When you lose your virginity— that second floor barracks room decorated in Guinness branded apparel isn’t romantic. Neither is some tight lipped boy from New Jersey. He will end up dumping you as soon as you leave for the military without so much as a ‘it’s over’.

9. Be fucking kind to yourself. You are an amazing human being. You are as unique as your name. You will survive the hard times, and elate in the good. You are going to get your heart broken. You are going to hurt. You are going to have children and get married. Everything will happen in time, but you must be capable of fully loving yourself before the right time comes along. You’re stronger for speaking your truth and opening your mind to the teaching of others.

10. Eat everything. Learn to cook at an earlier age. Get your ass out of bed early on Sunday morning— Sit with Dad and watch him make Snoqualmie Lodge pancakes. You don’t yet know it, but you are a natural at food.