From Younger Self to Current Self

Have you ever thought about your younger self, like from your high school years, and compared that very being to who you are today? Or it can be any younger version of yourself that you choose to reflect upon! Once you have chosen, please take a moment to follow your journey from then until now:

To note the gigantor differences and the fascinating similarities between both versions of yourself.

To admire and note the experiences, adventures, cringe-worthy circumstances, and the interesting path that took you from there to here.

To recognize the people, events, mistakes, fails, and accomplishments from which you learned valuable lessons, especially about yourself.

To feel a sense of pride and satisfaction that you overcame and/or came to terms with the obstacles that you did, perhaps at a time when you felt like you never would.

To give yourself a moment of gratitude that you walked (and stumbled and cart-wheeled and flopped and danced and spiraled out of control….) along the path that you did and arrived HERE, after it all.

To remember that our past is most certainly in the past, where we do not need to berate ourselves for old wounds and mistakes…..YET it is crucial to remind ourselves of the inner strength and the perseverance that we have cultivated along the way. And that there is WAAAAY more where that came from, ready to assist our future self to reach new heights.

We are braver, stronger, wiser, and better equipped to handle the changing tides than we perhaps once were….

And we deserve to tell ourselves “WELL DONE!!” for getting from there to here! Credit that is often so rarely given because it’s more challenging to give that nod and that token of appreciation to ourselves….even though many of us have had periods of our life where we have walked through fire, crawled through broken glass, faced a terrifying demon, scaled the highest mountains, and crashed down steep and rugged valleys, finding ourselves HERE. Still here and still going AND still ready and prepared to keep going.

THAT is worth a “WELL DONE!!!” and a whole lotta this:

And this:

And most certainly this:

😃💫👏🏼👏🏽👏🏿 🎶💃🏻🕺🏽

As I was cleaning this past week, I came upon my high school yearbooks. So, YOU KNOW that my cleaning took a bit of a ⏸ as I started to leaf through these memories!! I scrolled through some of the pages, read some of the messages from friends, and briefly reminisced about what high school was like for me.

Here is what I most remember:

I remember really loving high school!!!!

I know that some people do not share that same sentiment….perhaps the awkward and very hormonal years had something to do with it? It’s a definite challenge to navigate the territory of being a teenager, figuring out who we are and who we want to be, and everything that entails.

Even still, throughout all of that, I loved my high school class and my friends, most of the classes that I took, and MOST of my teachers. 😉 I loved learning new things, having a full routine that was seriously sun up to sun down, and working so hard to get the best grades that I possibly could! 🌞 🌚

This was when my perfectionistic sense of self was in FULL swing! Hence, there were many nights where I either pulled all-nighters to perfect papers and study for tests OR I would plan to stay up all night and then I would end up falling asleep with the lights on…… 💡

That definitely happened WAY more than a few times!! 😴 I must say, my perfectionist tendencies have calmed down quite a bit – – I haven’t pulled an all-nighter for work and study in years! – – However, I DO still love a solid and productive routine, learning and researching new things, and doing my absolute best whenever possible! Those things have strongly stayed with me since my high school days!!

I remember loving volleyball and being on the JV team for my freshman and sophomore year…but then getting cut from Varsity during my Junior year, maybe for more than one reason, though I was told that my height was a big disadvantage. I am 5’2″ so, it’s true, I would not have been spiking the ball anytime soon! 🏐

I was so heartbroken at getting cut that I didn’t try out for any other sports teams that year. I felt so embarrassed and disappointed in myself. I have always had the highest of standards for myself and many of them were unrealistic…that took some time to unpack over the years and is still a process today, albeit I’m much more aware of it!!

Anyways, I almost carried with me that shame and that grudge of not making Varsity volleyball through my Senior year as well! However, at the start of the year, after hearing that the Cross Country team needed more female runners, I decided to give that a shot because I used to run track in middle school…..And I am SO glad that I did!!!! Wow, did it majorly kick my bum – – middle school track and high school Cross Country were TOTALLY different animals!! – – but after that one season, I had a newfound love and respect for running long distances! 🏃🏻‍♀️

And I still do!!

^^This was taken after completing the 2017 Buffalo Half Marathon. One of my last REAL long distance races, where I actually trained and ran hard….because a few months after this photo, I had more knee shenanigans and I have been away from the full running and racing game since then. One day, I’ll be back!! (Think Arnold Swartzenegger 😎!) Especially because I do need a much more current “Race Finisher” photo!!!!!! That is very important. 😊🏅

I remember playing the flute in the school band during my freshman and sophomore year, which was so much fun for me! I was a flutist for seven years!

However, while playing the flute in the band, I was falling more and more in love with musicals and being on stage, singing and performing. So, I made the bold decision to move from band to chorus for my Junior and Senior years and focus more fully on the qualities of my performance and singing ability. And though I never built up the confidence to become a solo singer – – I think that I would need YEARS of vocal training before ever considering THAT role!!! – – I STILL found that being outside of my comfort zone and practicing singing helped me when it came to any of my future auditions. It helped me to dig deep and find the confidence to sing by myself and to stand out amongst my fellow dancers. Perhaps this is when I started to seek out the ways to be outside of my comfort zone and learn how to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. A significant skill that I still utilize for my personal growth and development to this day. Remember, the quest to be our best selves most often takes us far outside our comfort zone!! Let yourself go there! 🎯

Even more so, my passion for the stage, throughout all of my dance recitals and the nine musicals in which I was so fortunate to participate, greatly influenced my decision to pursue dancing as my major in college and then move towards becoming a professional dancer. Who knew that being a part of a summer theater youth group during high school AND being involved in my high school musicals, like….

….would have such a profound effect on my future path?????!!!!!!!

Out of the nine shows, I was honored to be chosen as dance captain for eight of the musicals and it was a role that I really cherished. I enjoyed having this leadership role and helping to teach choreography and steps to my fellow cast. I see this as a direct link to where I am now, embracing being both a group trainer and a personal trainer, where I have the pleasure of leading fellow Fitness Warriors through constantly-changing workouts. I take great pride in guiding them to success, encouraging them to trust themselves and trust the process, as well as inspiring them to always work for their personal bests.

I can guarantee that this former dance captain had no idea how her life would expand and change after high school. I mean, check out the photo below, it’s in the pose!! 😁🤷🏻‍♀️😆

😄

So, I had actually forgotten my exact Senior quote, except that it had to do with helping others reach the top alongside myself. Of course I had to look it up in the yearbook and it was quite gratifying to finally read the full quote! I felt proud of my younger self to select such a compassionate quote:

I still believe this is amazing advice, showing a strong sense of altruism and promoting being of service to our fellow beings. Wherever we are, whether we have reached the pinnacle of success or we have made it to one of the tiers below, we always have people that have helped us arrive there. Maybe one person, maybe a team, maybe a collection of souls that showed us both what to do AND what not to do…but rarely is life a solo mission.

So, valuing the people that have supported and taught us the lessons that we have used to make it to our summit or our tier are both crucial and honorable. AND it is especially significant and noble to extend this guidance and any assistance that we can offer to those who need it, to those who are following a similar path behind us or to those who might even be trying to follow in our very footsteps. 👣

Life is much better when others are happy because of us. And it is more than possible to serve humanity and lead others towards their own successes without worry or fear that their success means a lack of some sort for us. We can all win, benefit, and soar from tier to tier, though the help we give to and receive from others often makes all of the difference. Like Pope Francis has stated, “we are all born to help each other.” I fully agree and I have always tried to uphold these ideals as I move forward in my life. Which makes my high school quote that much sweeter and that much truer:

“On making it to the summit, your first move should be to turn around and offer a hand up to the person behind you.”

Alright, so when it comes to the gigantor differences between my high school self and my current self, this is how it used to be for me:

I was constantly running from my emotions and my own personal trauma because I didn’t want to deal with it. I did not know HOW to deal with it so focusing on the quest for perfection helped me to avoid needing to “deal with it.” I also never was kind to myself, always was disappointed that I wasn’t enough or doing enough, and I never really relished in my accomplishments because I was always searching for “what’s next?” and “how do I be better for next time?”

Since perfection is unattainable, I was always disappointed in myself and my very high standards often fell short….

Well, since then, I have set aside the standards of perfection and have replaced them with being the best version of myself possible each and every day. And it can still majorly fluctuate and I can still fall back to “not good enough”…….though now, it is temporary and I remind myself that mistakes are amazing when we learn from them. So, I tell myself, “LEARN FROM IT, shake it off, and try again!!” I would not have been able to do that in high school.

I have also come to terms with how busying ourselves with the hidden purpose of running away from our problems does nothing but prolong the inevitable, because the problems will ALWAYS catch up with us……And yes, my knee injuries were the main reason why I was forced to stop running and escaping. Ooooh, that was a super gut-wrenching lesson to learn!!!!🤢Needless to say, I have since had major practice sessions on how to face uncomfortable feelings, emotions, and traumas from the past. It still is a huge undertaking but I no longer feel like I need to escape my life and my emotions. And that is a HUGE difference for me!

I have also shifted my mindset to love the process and the day-to-day work towards my dreams and my visions. Rather than constantly looking ahead and postponing happiness because I haven’t “made it yet,” whether that is to a goal or to any destination, I choose to be happy now with where I am, even if it isn’t fully and completely where I want to be, (and it’s not, I assure you). Why choose misery and disappointment when you could choose happiness and joy? Choose which one makes you feel the best AND continue to work towards the future self that you wish to create. Both are possible and I wish my younger self had realized that this was possible for herself.

In any case, a lot has changed since my high school years and yet so much feels similar yet on a much grander scale. Perhaps it’s all those years of experiences accumulating and all the wisdom that I have been gaining since my high school days….🤓😃

Well, one thing that has actually remained the same is that I love to smile!!!! 😊 Back then and this very moment in time!! And I was fortunate enough to win “Brightest Smile” my Senior year, when my class voted for all the special categories, like “Most Likely to Succeed” and “Class Clown.”

I was and still am so honored that I was chosen for this one. Such a special nomination in the first place. ♥️♥️

So, even through all of these years of change, achievements, dreams met, and insane turmoil, my smile is the big connector between my younger self and my current self.

But you can be the judge for yourself, please!

My high school self:

My current self:

Perhaps the only thing REALLY different is that I learned how to smile with my eyes AND keep them open!!! That came from working as a professional dancer because many times my eyes looked closed in photos because I would smile so big that my eyes would squint!!!

Who cares, right???? 🤣

ANYWAYS, the smile of both versions of myself say that whatever happens next, we will handle it. Because we’re never giving up and we will figure out a way. That was true then and it is especially true now.

Therefore, WELL DONE, younger self!!!! For the path that took you from there to here! What a journey it has been!!!! And what a journey it will continue to be.

SO, from my younger self and my current self to you, thank you for being here!! And don’t forget to love and appreciate: yourself, the process, and this long and winding path that you have been on.

Oh!!! And especially:

Don’t forget to SMILE!!!!! 🤩🐶

😍😃😀😁😊😍😃😀😁😊😍😃😀😁😊