10 Things I Wish I Could Tell My Younger Self
I asked friends, families and clients … what is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
Here are the top 10 lessons!
Enjoy the moment, appreciate what you have.
One of the most common themes I got when asking this question was that they wish they realized how good they had it in the moment. It is important to stay in the present, don’t stress too much about the future and enjoy what you have while you have it.
It’s ok to stand out, try hard and even sweat!!
So many girls brought up not wanting to try too hard for fear of being judged, didn’t like trying in gym class because they were embarrassed to sweat or thought they were too cool for school and didn’t put in the effort. ALL of these women, regret this mentality and believe it probably stopped them from reaching their full potential!! Trust me when I say this, everyone around you is FAR more preoccupied about themselves for them to be worried about you.
Have fun outside of your sport.
Yeah, playing sports is a blast, and it’s fun to challenge yourself, push yourself to your goals and give it your all. BUT at the end of the day, if you are not filling up your cup with hobbies, activities and people you enjoy, you are UNABLE to give it your all in your sport, in school or in your personal life.
It’s ok to be sad if you lose or fail but know that it’s not the end of the world!
It’s ok to feel, to have emotions, be angry etc. But remember, the sun will still come up tomorrow. There will always be another opportunity, another game, another team to make.
Take advantage of the resources given to you. (Take care of your body now)
As a youth athlete, we are often exposed to various coaches, specialists, gyms, trainers, physios etc. They may seem like a waste of time, another boring workshop to listen to! But there’s a reason the adults are bringing these people in. They have good advice and it’s worth listening to. Many women now tell me: “I wish I had listened more to my coaches back then about taking care of my body. My older self would have thanked me!”
Curate a positive environment.
Even if that means you have to miss out on playing for the highest level, having a great coach and awesome teammates can go such a long way for your mental health, confidence and dedication to your sport. Too many girls I’ve talked to, dropped out of their sport after playing for a team with a toxic environment.
Sports offer more than just a game.
Remember that the wins and losses, trophies and championships will fade with time, but the memories you make with your teammates are what last a lifetime. Realizing that there is more to sport than being the best will offer you a lifetime of friends, good life lessons and lifelong sport participation.
I wish I didn’t quit.
The biggest regret so many women have is quitting! For whatever reason, somewhere along the path sport becomes a secondary priority and as you grow up, it starts to fade. However, most women wish they had kept with it in SOME capacity. Maybe you aren’t playing as competitively, but staying connected as a rec player or a coach, keeps you in the game. It is always harder to get back into it, than to modify your current involvement.
If you have a goal, go get it!
Don’t be afraid of failure!! Work your ass off to get to where you want to be.
Get out of your head.
Don’t be so hard on yourself! Stay present in each moment. You can’t change the past and you can’t worry about the future.
