A letter to a young me

Things I wish someone had told me in 1980

If you never touch a horse again, you will avoid many injuries, heartbreak, and financial drain.  Also some of the best times of your life.  Maybe enjoy them from a distance.

Makeup is both optional and expensive.  Also?  All those daily facial rituals that you will read about in Young Miss can be skipped.  When your face starts to feel dry after showering, around age 30, buy a nice hypoallergenic moisturizer and apply it after every shower.  Otherwise, forget about it.

Not everybody is going to like you.  It's okay.  Like yourself - you're the one who has to live with you.  If you don't like yourself, figure out why and start living your life so you're the person you want to be.

One of the best ways to get to know and become close to people is to work with them.  Help out.  Ask people if you can help them.  If they really need the help and you know they'll tell you "no thanks" because they don't want to be any trouble, don't ask first.

Squeamish folks, skip this part.  I'll put up a line of asterisks when it's safe to read again.

Your vaginal fluids will vary throughout your menstrual cycle.  It doesn't indicate any kind of illness.  In fact it indicates everything is working normally.  Do not sweat it unless you have tremendous itching, pain, or a foul odor that is not removed by a regular old shower.

Your temperature also varies throughout your menstrual cycle.  Unless your temperature is over 100, or you also feel lousy, you probably aren't sick. 

Don't use latex.  That includes condoms, diaphragms, menstrual cups, and even bandaids.  Find non-latex solutions.  Latex causes you to hurt and bleed.

**************************Safe reading again!

It can be hard to figure out how much alcohol you can safely drink.  And you will suffer hangovers and horrendous vomiting before you figure it out.  So I'm just going to tell you. Your limit is 2.5 beers.  You can have a little more than that, but not without consequences.  By no means ever drink more than six beers in one sitting.

You are going to spend a lot of time alone.  Keep a list of things you want to ponder when you have time.  WRITE THEM DOWN because you will also have a crappy memory.

"Alternative" medicine is not all quackery.   It is not normal to have constant pain in your spine and other joints when you are young.  See a chiropractor.  Do the exercises they tell you to do.


You may have noticed by now that eating is usually followed by pain.  Find out about digestive enzymes.  Use them, especially with greasy foods.   Andrographis may solve many of your digestive troubles, as well as curing or preventing Lyme Disease.  Also?  Try to avoid ticks.

You did not inherit fantastic teeth.  Find a dentist you like.  You'll be spending a lot of time with him.  Brush and floss regularly to minimize damage.  When the first hygienist tells you that you grind your teeth, it is not a judgement on you.  It is a practical observation.  Find out what you can do to prevent tooth grinding, because the longer you can keep your own original teeth, the better.  Fake teeth are not as good.

Stretching is important.  The more so the older you get. 

If something is making you unhappy, ask yourself "What can I do to make this better?  What do I really want?"  The answers may surprise you.  Positive action is always better than inaction and worry.  When you figure out what you need to do to overcome your own fears and inhibitions, do so.  Ignore people who tell you that you're going to slow or doing it wrong.  They don't have to live inside your head.

Your family are your first and closest friends.  Pay attention to them.  They will not be there forever.

Move.  Walking feels good, is good for you, and is an excellent way to clear your mind.

Bad things will happen.  That's life.  It is okay to grieve.  You have to do it before you can move on.  But then, move on.

You aren't perfect now, nor will you be in the future.  Do your best and be happy with what you've got. 

Smile.  It makes other people happy, which will in turn make you happy.  It's free, it's easy,  and it's the best way to meet a new person who might become a friend.

People move on.  It's okay to miss them.  But love the ones you're with, too.

Enjoy your life.  Look around and notice the beauty.

That about sums it up.  You're good to go, kiddo.