If I could advise my younger self…
If I could advise my younger self, my child-self even, and anyone else who feels they may be on the wrong track in life, I would say create your own rules – listen to guidance but follow your gut.
It doesn’t matter if we are female, male, or choose to identify with no particular gender, we can be who we want to be.
Don’t be taken in by flattery nor dissuaded by reproach: stick to what you believe in for your own ideas are true and worth as much as those of others.
Don’t rely on others to create your confidence or bolster you up. Build an external scaffold of true supporters but is your own, internal, scaffold which will keep you strong.
Listen to constructive criticism and use it positively; anyone who can be bothered to feedback is surely worth listening to.
Listening to what others think can secure our own beliefs but only when we feel safe to believe them and, to get to that safe place, you have to believe in yourself.
Don’t compare yourself to others or let others compare you to anyone for you are one, an individual, and you don’t have to be like anyone else. Be who you choose.
Emotional intelligence is as important as any other kind of intelligence. When you are called sensitive, take it as a compliment for this will allow you the greatest empathy with others, and will feed your writing and your relationships.
When you are a teenager and want to write poetry, but no one cares, don’t let that stop you and don’t be ashamed of this desire; it is you and your soul you are putting onto a page, and you need not share any of these words with others – that is your choice.
Don’t rip up and burn those diaries you pour yourself into when you are 16, keep them; lock them away if it reassures you, but keep them. When you get to the age where you allow yourself to follow your dreams, they will unlock a place where your feelings were raw, but it will be the truth that you told, and no one can argue with the truth.
Be proud of who you are.
Keep being kind to others, but please, learn to be kind to yourself… and learn this while you are young.
A bit about Karen…
A writer, a reader, a speaker, a creative thinker.
With her first degree in Genetics, Karen began her career in genetic research, then moved into teaching.
She has an MA in Writing, with distinction and is very happy to now be working in a role where she can combine her passion for words with her passion for people.
Karen listens to clients and puts across their story in the way they want it to be told.
Karen is skilled in communications; she will take tired content and inject life into it, creating engaging copy that people want to read.