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words of wisdom

We asked for the words of wisdom you'd want to share with your teenage self

Oh, to go back in time.

AS PART OF the Note to Self series with CBS, former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, wrote a letter to her younger self, reflecting on the lessons she learned and the strides she made in her younger years.

Michelle Obama book tour Yui Mok Yui Mok

Recalling the privilege with which she was unfamiliar but ultimately surrounded by after being accepted into ‘one of the finest universities in the world’, she wrote:

Years from now, you’ll learn that your parents had to take out new credit cards to pay your tuition. But Michelle, what you’ll come to realize one day is that you’re only seeing what you lack and not everything that your story has given you.

Michelle’s letter got us thinking, and we asked you to share the words of wisdom you think your teenage self could have benefited from.

So, without further ado, here’s what you had to say.

1. Rookie mistake

Don’t post a photo of yourself smoking on Bebo when you’re 14-years-old to make you look cool, if you want to avoid ‘house arrest’ for six months. I firmly did not believe my mother knew what Bebo was.

2. Straight to the point.

Your face does not suit a fringe. Trust me, don’t do it.

3. Tell us someone whose life has gone to plan, and we’ll show you a bullshitter.

Your life up to 30 will not go according to plan like you tell yourselves everyone on ‘Friends’ did. Theirs didn’t either, and that’s totally OK. (Plus rent control in Ireland? LOL.)

4. RIP natural brows.

Don’t get pencil eyebrows, that’s my one piece of advice. Get things done professionally if you don’t know how to do them. No DIY beauty.

5. We’re sensing a theme.

Eyebrows are important.

6. Just go home and stay there instead.

Don’t wear your dad’s steel-toe cap work boots in order to get into the local nightclub after you’ve been turned away for wearing runners.

7. It’s all a bit of a learning curve.

Learn from mistakes and learn what suits you. You’ll always want to be similar to your friends and dress the same as all of them, but you’ll grow up to have totally different styles, so remember that.

8. Take note. 

Body glitter is never a good idea. Nor are hair bandanas. And white pleather kitten heel boots don’t look good on anyone.

9. But… but… we’ve been doing it since the Spice Girls.

Posing with the peace sign makes you look like a dope.

10. A hard, but vital pill to swallow, if we’re being honest.

Listen to your mother – she’s almost always right.

11. This is a promise.

You’ll get over your crush eventually, then look back and wonder what the hell you were thinking.

12. We’re sensing another theme.

Pretty much every one of your crushes will be a source of embarrassment for you to look back on. Like, every one of them. So yeah, enjoy…

13. Words to live by.

Take it easy on the tan.

14. How we wish we’d internalised this.

Enjoy your youth while you’re young, because in another few years times you’ll be wishing you could go back there.

15. And lastly?

Friends will come and go, and nothing lasts forever; especially the shit stuff.

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