What I Would Tell My Younger Self Today

 

If I could sit down with the younger version of myself, I think I would tell her not to worry so much.

Back then, I was a young woman living in Rotterdam with a big love for writing. I started blogging because I enjoyed it. It was something that belonged to me.

To be honest, I had no grand plan.

I wasn't thinking about where I would be ten or fifteen years later.

I wasn't thinking about becoming successful.

I simply loved writing and sharing stories.

Looking back now, I realise how different I was.

My life felt carefree.

I lived more in the moment.

I wasn't thinking about responsibilities or long-term goals the way I do now.

At the same time, I was also quite insecure.

I often wondered whether people liked my articles.

Was I writing well enough?

Were people actually enjoying what I was sharing?

Like many bloggers at the time, I also dreamed about collaborations and receiving products from brands. And eventually those opportunities came. I worked with wonderful companies, met amazing people and experienced things that I never imagined when I first started writing.

But if I am honest, that was never the real reason why I started blogging.

The real reason was much simpler.

I loved writing.

And I loved sharing things that might inspire someone else.

One of the biggest turning points in my life came when I moved abroad.

That experience changed me more than I ever expected.

For the first time, I had to rely on myself in a completely different way. Suddenly, I could not always fall back on the familiar things I had known for years.

I had to figure things out on my own.

Looking back, that period forced me to grow up very quickly.

The young carefree girl slowly became a much stronger and more independent woman.

It wasn't always easy.

There were challenges, disappointments and moments of uncertainty.

But those experiences taught me something valuable:

I am stronger than I think.

Today, at 45 years old, I look at life differently.

I no longer compare myself to others.

I no longer feel the need to prove myself.

Instead, I focus on growth.

On becoming healthier.

On creating a life that makes me happy.

And on sharing my experiences with other women who may be going through similar things.

Because life does not stop at 40.

Life does not stop at 45.

In many ways, I feel like I am only just getting started.

If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be this:

Keep writing.

Keep believing in yourself.

And don't be afraid of change.

Some of the most beautiful chapters of your life are still waiting for you.

Love,

Shavida