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Health and Wellness

If You Wouldn't It To Your 10-Year-Old Self, Don't Say It At All

Damn, OK.

Isabelle Adler

Sep 21, 2018

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

112

Isabelle Adler

I'm not sure when it started, but at some point past my young years, I started to be mean. Really mean. Mean to myself. Not to others. To me. I would never say the things to others that I say to myself.

That is so messed up.

At what age do we decide to put ourselves under this immense amount of pressure to be perfect in every aspect? To compare ourselves to others, to change for others, to not be us. At what point did I stop being okay with who I was because I was so focused on the strive to be someone else?

Let me ask you this: "Would you say to your 10-year-old self?" Someone recently asked me this question, and I was in awe. Honestly, no. Half the stuff I tell myself, I would never say to my 10-year-old self. My pure, little, cute 10-year-old self. I couldn't imagine any 10-year-old having to hear the stuff I say to myself.

I think of my 10-year-old self. My anxiety-prone (didn't know it at the time), silly self. I could barely handle the 5th-grade math tests and spelling quizzes, yet I still motivated my way through it. I was young, carefree, and optimistic. Why did I let that change? It should not have. Hell, I am still young and carefree. Not so optimistic, but I'm sick of that. The glass is half full, and I seriously need to start telling myself that more.

To be honest, I don't have some profound deep-rooted answer, I'm just here to write the truth.

And the truth is, my 10-year-old self seriously could not handle the pressure I put myself under. She would cry. A lot.

I am really fed up with being so mean. Being mean to others is never even an option so I do not want to be so mean to myself anymore. I would never want any child to hear this, so why do I let myself hear it? It is exhausting.

I don't have the answers yet. I have ways in which I think I can fix this. Treat myself with some TLC. A little more often than I do. Positive thoughts, always. You can do this, you can do this. You are enough.

A new school year, a new mantra. Love for yourself always. No matter what. Nice thoughts only.

To my 10-year-old self…

You are adorable. Embrace it all, and always love yourself. Never tell yourself you deserve anything less than perfect.

self love

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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If You Wouldn't It To Your 10-Year-Old Self, Don't Say It At All

Damn, OK.

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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