It’s amazing how the years fly by and how hindsight has 20/20 vision. What would you tell your 20-year-old self if you could? There are so many lessons we learn over the years; who to trust, who to love, what job to take, how to avoid that car accident you got in on that icy night 15 years ago… Okay, we could write a list a mile long. For now, let’s limit our hindsight to self-preservation and beauty techniques.
Dear 20-year-old Kati,
Overall you’re doing pretty great at 43, but there are few lessons we should have known back in the day.
- Start exercising now! It only gets harder as you get older…go do 30 squats NOW!
- Learn to like water. It really does a body good.
- Start using medical grade skin care– especially a good eye cream! There is NO replacing a really good eye cream.
- Retinol should be your new best friend. It will help your skin stay as young as you feel.
- Wear sunscreen and stop tanning. It might feel good on your skin, but the sun’s damage will only torture you later- and cost a fortune to reverse.
- Stop pulling ‘all-nighters.’ Sleep is when your body reboots itself and cells work to heal themselves.
- Moisturize. You might have nice soft skin now, but at 43 you feel like a lizard. Daily moisturizing will help to maintain that softness you love.
- Don’t spend three weeks crying over “Mr. Wonderful!” Your eyes will be puffy for months. Believe me- HE is NOT who you end up marrying!
- Stop making ‘that face!’ Mom was right, it really does stay like that! (and BOTOX ain’t cheap sister!)
I know you have a lot to learn, but do your best, don’t be too hard on yourself, laugh often, love completely and regret nothing.
Love,
43-year-old Kati
