Quiet Pages, Day Nine: What Advice Would Your 15-Year-Old Self Give You?

Day 9

Congratulations! You’ve completed more than one full week of Quiet Pages prompts. That’s one week of a daily writing practice. You. Are. Amazing.

If you haven’t completed all prompts to date, you’re still amazing. You have the opportunity to go back and complete any missed prompts or just go forward. The goal isn’t the prompt. The goal is to keep writing.

Today’s prompt: You’ve seen the question dozens of times before — “What advice would you give your fifteen-year-old self?” Here’s my answer to that question: My younger self would likely not take advice from the adult me at any age. And I’m fooling myself if I think differently.

I like turning that question around. I wouldn’t mind advice from a younger me. Things like:

• Remember to play.

• Don’t take yourself too seriously.

• Get outside.

• Laugh.

• Lighten up.

The nudge: Fifteen-year-old you not inspiring? Choose the advice you’d give yourself at any other age. You may even want to project ahead and seek counsel from a future you. I’m getting ready to spend a few days with my granddaughters, ages 1 and 4. I can’t wait to hear what advice they will give me.

The goal: Write five words or more on the topic or any variation on the topic that inspires you. Gee, I wonder how many words my 15-year-old self would manage? Never mind, I know the answer. He’s out shooting hoops, not journaling.

Thanks for showing up today as yourself, your 15-year-old self, or your self at any age.