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.

  1. Start exercising now! It only gets harder as you get older…go do 30 squats NOW!
  2. Learn to like water. It really does a body good.
  3. Start using medical grade skin care– especially a good eye cream! There is NO replacing a really good eye cream.
  4. Retinol should be your new best friend. It will help your skin stay as young as you feel.
  5. 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.
  6. Stop pulling ‘all-nighters.’ Sleep is when your body reboots itself and cells work to heal themselves.
  7. 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.
  8. 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!
  9. 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

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Kati Midgley