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Things I’d Tell My 17-Year-Old Self

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1. I know you’re more worried about what’s going on at school right now than spending time with your family, but one day, you’ll enjoy being with your Mom so much you’ll take road trips to some really pretty places together.

(1a. Pay more attention to the things she writes to you in those cards she leaves on your bed.)

2. When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Take half the clothes and twice the money. (Heller)

3. Start each day by looking up. It’ll widen your horizon.

4. The human spirit needs places where nature hasn’t been rearranged by the hand of man. Take more walks in the woods!


5. You know all that weird “old stuff” your Mom thinks is so cool right now? (screen doors, stone chimneys, old windows) You’ll be crazy about it all one day, too.

(5a. You’ll love that kind of stuff so much you’ll even start a blog about it.) (PS- I know you don’t know what a blog is right now, but trust me, you’ll be crazy about those too one day.)

6. Those architectural drawings your Mom works on in her office may not intrigue you now, but one day, you’ll be passionate about drawing rooms to scale for people too. Ask her questions about what she’s working on and take notes!

7. This may be hard to believe, but weeding the garden isn’t going to kill you.

(7a. one day, you’ll wish you had enough time, talent and space to grow all the amazing things your Mom does!)

8. Life is like riding a bicycle – in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving. (Einstein) Follow your heart and fight for your dreams!

9. Riding bike might not seem like a very “cool” thing to do right now, but one day you’ll see a grass green Schwinn cruiser that’ll take your breath away.

10. Buy a bike now and ride it whenever you can! There are awesome bike trails all over the place, just ask your Mom.

11. In late September, spend less time looking at your cell phone (again, that will make sense later in life), and more time looking at the trees explode with color.

(PS- You aren’t going to meet and marry Jon Knight from NKOTB, but don’t worry- there’s another music man out there whose heart has your name written all over it.)

12. Pay more attention in photography class. There’s a road from the eye to the heart that doesn’t go through the intellect (Chesterton) and one day you’ll slam on the brakes to take pictures of things you don’t even notice are beautiful right now.

13. Ask your Mom to teach you how to cook. If you don’t take the time to learn how to do it now, you’ll be eating cereal, sandwiches and Stouffer’s when you’re 37. I’m not kidding.

14. Cherish the sky-blue painted wood floor in your bedroom. One day, you’ll want to paint the wood floors in your own home, but you’ll be too scared to do it!

15. Do not, I repeat, do not try to use a fire escape ladder to sneak out your second floor bedroom window this year. You will regret it. I promise.

16. Being grounded isn’t the worst thing in the world. When you get older, you’ll actually enjoy sitting still.

17. I hate to break it to you, but you will always be afraid of the dark. Invest in a good nightlight and take it with you wherever you go!

18. The three C’s of life are choices, chances, and changes. You’ve gotta make a choice to take a chance in order to change. (unknown)

(18a. The 4th C should be for Chex mix. Not only will you carry a bag of it wherever you go when you’re 37 years old, but in a pinch, you’ll also use it to king your checkers on one of the road trips you take with your Mom that year.)

19. Someone is totally right about that whole water thing. Sweat, tears, and the sea can cure anything.


20. At different points throughout your adult life, your inner fire will go out. Don’t worry. Spend time with people who can rekindle your inner spirit and don’t ever forget to tell them how much they mean to you.

21. When it comes to solving problems, dig at the roots. Don’t just hack at the leaves. (D’Angelo)

22. Sometimes, the most important thing in a whole day is the rest you take between two deep breaths. (Hillesum)

23. You might not ever figure out exactly what you want to be when you grow up, but that’s okay.

Your parents are totally cool with your artsy-fartsyness and life is more about the journey than the destination anyway.

24. Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. (D’Angelo)

25. Be like the color yellow as much as possible. Sunny, optimistic and cheerful!

26. Read more books. Someday you’ll want to write one.

27. Blog about your road trips with your Mom and include lots of pictures so you can relive the memories you shared with her for years to come.

Some of them will instantly transport you back to the day Mother Nature seemed to be celebrating her very presence by showering her with crunchy “leaf confetti” every time the wind blew extra hard. (Remember how she had to guard her coffee from the celebration!)

Some of them will bring back memories of exploring interesting places, sipping wine out of tiny juice glasses, and making up your own rules because neither of you knew how to really play…

And fortunately, some of them will be there for you to witness over and over again…

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Comments

  1. cassie {hi sugarplum}

    That was a really sweet and thoughtful post. What an amazing trip you’re taking with your mom. I hope to do that soon with my mom…and someday with my daughter.

    Thanks Layla…have a great rest of your trip!
    xo. Cassie

  2. Myra @ My Blessed Life

    Oh my goodness, Layla! What a gorgeously, beautiful, sweet post! I’m sitting here on the verge of sweet tears. Precious, absolutely precious….just as you are, my friend! XOXO

    • Layla

      Thank you Myra! I cherish your friendship, and look forward to seeing you in person again SOON! 😀

  3. Sarah Teske

    Aww…this is so sweet. I think it’s awesome that you and your mom have such a great relationship.

  6. Valerie

    I never comment, but I couldn’t let this post go without saying something. I agree with all of your thoughts and they even brought tears to my eyes! What a sweet and thoughtful post. Thanks for writing it!

  7. Dayla

    Gorgeous photos and wonderful post! I love being (Mostly) Grown Up (31) and enjoying each memory I’m able to make with my mother (and father too)!

  8. Mary

    Layla, this is such an amazing tribute to your mother. Something you will both treasure for years to come. Blessings to you for honoring her in such a beautiful and heartfelt way.
    Happy travels,
    xo
    mary

  9. Jennifer

    Thank you! I am 36, and I feel like you wrote that post to my 17-year-old self! You brought tears to my eyes, for goodness sake (and I’m at work)! Just such a lovely post.

    • Layla

      Oops! Sorry about the waterworks at work, Jennifer! 😀 Thank you for your kind comment!

      • Jennifer

        Thanks Layla, I went back and read the post again, and wanted to mention that although I always loved riding bikes as a kid, it wasn’t until my 30’s that I went back and bought a 1973 grass green Schwinn! I can relate on so many levels to what you’ve written. Thanks again!

  13. Christina

    Love the photos. Love this line: You aren’t going to meet and marry Jon Knight from NKOTB.
    I spent way too much time rearranging his pictures (as well as the rest of the group) on my wall back in the day. I like to think I was preparing myself on how to make a gallery wall and it was not wasted time 😉

  17. Nesbi Maret Hernandez

    Thank you for sharing.
    Kristen said it the Best, I will carry it in my heart

  23. Jen

    Oh my goodness! I LOVE this post! Thanks so much for taking the time to write it. I am sitting here thinking about my 17 year old self now. Your pics are great too! Thanks for sharing!

  24. {darlene}

    I loved every word of this post. It made me think of the blessing of having my mom and being a mom. and thankful that we don’t stay 17 for ever! amen.

    • Layla

      Thank you, Darlene! And you’re right about being thankful that we don’t stay 17 forever…Amen to that! 🙂

  25. Michelle

    I never post, but that was so beautiful! It almost brought tears to my eyes! The pictures are amazing and what a great memory you and your mother are making now. Love it!

  27. The OutPost

    OMG. I am crying. What a beautiful piece of writing about spending time with your mum. It makes me miss mine. Wish I could jump on a plane right now to Scotland and go visit her. The pictures are glorious. I love the one of your mum drinking her coffee,that you took through the door. Beautiful piece that I would love to share..May I ?
    I also want to thank you on your ceiling idea’s we finished all our ceilings that needed replaced with the wood that you wrote about in your blog…

    • Layla

      You are more than welcome to share, and thank you for leaving such a sweet comment for me! 😀

  29. Pamela Gordon

    What a beautiful post! Love the photos and the advice, which is so very true. I enjoyed seeing your home in BHG’s new Christmas Ideas magazine! Blessings, Pamela

  30. Perfecting Pru

    A beautiful post. It all resonated with me so much. I’m off to show it to my mum right now. Thank you.

  31. Sandra

    This brought tears, joyful tears that you could appreciate the small moments and the beauty of your relationship with your mom. What a life changing trip, and you chose such unique places to stay. Can you tell us where that last, wonderful, multi-level treehouse with the hammock is? I must visit it someday 🙂 Thank you for sharing.

    • Layla

      Thank you Sandra! The treehouse shots, and everything in all the other photos, were taken at Camp Wandawega! 🙂

  34. denise

    Once again you’ve blessed my day! Thanks Layla! What precious memories you’ve made with your mother, knowing what a treasure they are. Now that mine is gone the precious memories are all the more sweet. Thank you for the reminder! Hugs!

  35. Rhonda I

    Aw, loved it all, so true what we worry about when we are just so young, This too shall pass (I so wish I would have thought more about there being a season for things)

    Thank you Layla, beautiful journey inspiring words, grand memories with you Mom. 🙂

  36. Emily @ On the V Side

    Love this! While you’re at it, could you swing by and tell these truths to my 17-year-old self, too? I’d be much obliged 🙂

    Thanks for reminding all of us to stop and take life in, once in a while.

    Emily

  37. Jo @ To a Pretty Life

    Oh, I wanted to pin every picture in this post! I just might do that too. The biggest thing I’d tell my 17 year old self is that it is not the end of the world if you don’t get married and have babies…either right away or at all. I don’t regret getting married to my husband, but I do think we should have waited a year or two or four. College would have been a good idea.

  38. Melissa

    What a neat post. Love all the things you say and love that you and your mom are so close. Reminds me of me and my mom. I also yearn to go to Camp Windings!

  40. jujubee

    i have been reading you faithfully for a couple of years. this is the first time i have written (on any of the blogs i follow), but you were at your grandest today. so, so evocative. it needs to be published somewhere beyond your
    blog. probably most important, it is a great gift to your mother and a tribute to her mothering. and, it looks like you will be just as good a mom.
    by the way, i’m 71 years old.

  41. Mandy

    This could be my favorite post of yours! Looks like you were paying attention in photography class after all!

  42. Letty

    That was such a precious post. So many truths, lovely pictures, and a real sense of appreciation. The good thing is that your 17-year-old self made the journey to become the wise you today, so she was definitely on the right path, even back then.

  43. Cassandra

    Wow! This was such a sincere and sweet post. Thank you for sharing it with us. I was fighting back tears of joy.

  45. Lyss

    Oh Layla this may be my favorite post of yours! So true!
    I love your home stuff, but the heart stuff keeps my reading!
    xo
    Lyss

  47. Erin

    Lovely post…I think I’m going to go call my Mom. Although if you really are 37 (like me) I think I will go and cry first. And then double the amount of anti-wrinkle serum I’ve been using. ;-).

  48. Gail

    What a sweet post!! Makes me want to embrace life more and go hug my mom!! I have a date with her tomorrow walking around an old town full of antiques and going to lunch…I can’t wait!!

    Hugs,
    Gail

    P.S. If you’re wanting a good book to read, “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp would be right up your alley! This post reminded me of that book…I just finished reading in a book club I’m in. 😉 xo

  49. Bekah

    This might be the best blog post I have ever read. I am 37 and I would love to be able to go back and tell my 17 year old self the same things.