Sixteen years is a lifetime (for my son) and seems like a moment for me. I barely recognize that young mom in the photo and can’t help but wish she had known some of the things I know now.

I’ve known I needed healing since I was a teen, and have been on an active healing journey since my early 20s. It’s been a long path with many twists and turns and dead ends and many more joyful moments and breakthroughs.

Here are a few things I would tell with my 20-something self if I had the chance:

Your instincts are correct. There IS something going on with your health, and here’s how you can start to heal.

Spend more time outdoors, even if the weather isn’t perfect. Invest in some good outerwear and quit wearing sunglasses as much as possible. Go barefoot. Expose your skin to sun as much as possible. Your pale skin and inability to tan isn’t just genetics, it’s an overabundance of inflammation in your body. Ground your body. Stop eating seed oils. Your puffy eyes might mean your liver needs some assistance; drink lemon water in the morning and herbal teas in the evening to help your liver gently detoxify.

The metal fillings in your mouth are slowly poisoning you and causing fatigue, thyroid issues, digestive problems and brain fog.

I know they’re cheaper, but you’re worth the cost of the more expensive porcelain fillings. Also, you can stop getting cavities by changing your diet.

The way you talk to yourself is harming you more than you realize.

I know you’ve been saying mean things to yourself for a really long time and old habits die hard, but what you say to yourself has deep and lasting impact. There’s also this little thing called law of attraction; the sooner you put this law into action in your life the sooner you’ll begin to heal the wounds that are at the root of your disparaging self-talk. First start to notice when you say unkind things to yourself, then gradually stop and replace with kind(er) words and phrases.

Lots of love,
Me

P.S. Read the books You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay and Ask and it is Given by Esther Hicks.

P.P.S. That little boy is going to grow up faster than you think. Get in all the snuggles you can.