I can't believe this, but I'm having trouble coming up with a blog topic today. That could be due to the stack of textbooks waiting to be read, the business proposal I'm supposed to be writing that I am in complete dread of (and it's mocking me, btw. I have my Google Docs tab up and I keep averting my eyes, but it is calling my name. Dang proposal), the list of French words that are still unlearned for Monday's vocab quiz (and all of French Teacher's gentle but still guilt-inducing suggestions that perhaps I could put a bit more effort into the vocab are ringing in my ears, because he is 263% correct about that), and
The Help sitting on the other shelf, to be ignored until homework is done. You might say my thoughts are divided this afternoon.
So, I wandered over to the
NaBloWriMo site for a prompt, but it looks like Not Hannah is having an exhausting week, so today's prompt is not up. Instead, I'm taking Tuesday's: What advice would you give your fifteen-year-old self?
Hmmm. Here's the thing: I don't really remember 15 that well. I remember 14 (freshman year of high school) and 16 (that was a fun year), but 15? I think I spent most of that year waiting to be 16. But, I'm fairly certain that 15 was the year that I discovered the not-at-all delightful combination of Sominex and Stay Awake. I've had insomnia issues since I was born (or so my mother says), but I was a teenager before I found out that I could take medication for it. And it didn't take long for me to find out that Sominex lasts longer than the 8 hours or whatever promised on the side of the package. Enter: Stay Awake.
And of course, we all know how this sort of story ends. These non-habit-forming chemicals magically become habit-forming, and have the same kind of cycle of needing more for the same effect as any other chemical. I do understand that sleep aids and caffeine are not the worst drugs in the world, and that other teens had way more destructive habits than this. I also know that I was very lucky that I didn't venture down that path, considering how easy it was to get addicted to sleep aids and caffeine. I don't remember how long it lasted, although I think I stopped using them before I graduated. And I'm pretty sure that some of my long-lasting quirks-- frequent lightheadedness, headaches, a tendency to be insane under the influence of caffeine-- date back to those days.
So, my advice to my 15-year-old self? Leave those things on the shelf and out of your body. You don't need them!
What advice would you give you the 15-year-old you?
12 comments:
Extremely good advice.
Yeah. I sure wish I could go back and take it! :/
15?? Hmm, interesting - it seems like 16 was much more memorable!!
1993, however, I remember quite vividly. I graduated high school and went to college. Well, I remember the first half quite vividly. ;)
erica
I remember 15 only too well. I had run off with my now ex husband to Florida to prove a point to my parents. Which by the way was totally idiotic. I would have told myself 1)Don't go to Florida with him and 2)You really don't know EVERYTHING. That was a real rough year.
As for 1993, well by then I had three little kids (4, 2, and 1). I wouldn't change have them, but holding off longer.
But then again, I wouldn't be at this point in my life if I hadn't gone through all of that. :)
@Erica: I know!! I remember a lot about being 16! I guess that's why they chose 15-- a bit more of a challenge. Also, LOL!
@Donna: Is there something magical about 15 that makes people do daft things, I wonder? Although, if you could tell your 15-yo self that she didn't know everything, do you think she would believe you? B/C I don't think the 15-yo me would trust me about the meds. :(
I'd tell my 15-year-old self to keep a more level head, or maybe tell her that college will be worth getting through high school.
And 1993...yeah, I was a year old, so don't remember that much.
I purposefully didn't blog this topic for NaBloWriMo (it's painful), but since you asked, I would tell 15 year old me 3 things:
1) Don't start running from God. He will find you anyway and you could be spared all that pain.
2) This boy will bring you more heartache than you can imagine. Don't marry him.
3) The heart attack Dad just had was one of 2. Make the next 2 years with him count because that's all you've got left!
@Jenna: Very true... I think most people at that age need to know that college will make H.S. worth it!
@Jenny: That is painful. :(
Su-good point. my 15 year old self would have never listened to me.
Heh. I hope my 33-year-old self would listen to my 60-year-old self if I were suddenly to materialize before me.
I remember when Saved by the Bell did a Very Special Episode about the dangers of getting addicted to caffeine pills.
What would I tell my 15 year old self? Quit taking life so seriously. People like you better when you can laugh at your mistakes.
Oh, yeah, my parents made me watch that VSE. Of course, I would have watched it anyway, b/c I was addicted to Saved by the Bell.
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