Carly Findlay

Writer, speaker, appearance activist. Loving life!

Listography – time travel

Kate’s Listography challenge this week is ‘Places I’d Like to Time Travel To’

I was an avid history student at school. I loved learning about the First Fleet, the Pyjama Girl mystery, JFK, music through the decades, the Vietnam war, Indigenous Australia and of course, civilisations throughout ancient history. I also enjoyed art history, topping my art class in art theory and being offered a place at university in an art history course. So I thought I’d have lots to write about here. Lots of places I’d like to visit in history.

But I only want to go back to one place – my childhood between the ages of around four to 18.

I want to tell my younger self that my life is going to be ok. That I am going to be someone. Someone more than the bullies told me I’d be and the doubters expected of me. That I will be more than they ever could.

I want to tell my younger self that looks aren’t everything. That I will influence people through just being myself. That I don’t have to change. That people will love me for me.

I want to tell my younger self that this illness isn’t doomsday. That a suicidal thought shouldn’t be an option. That I will use my experiences to help people. And that I’ll lead a pretty good life. I’ll have fun and see bands and write and cook and have lots of friends and shop a lot.

I want to tell my younger self that I will find someone who loves me – maybe more than one someone, and even if he is a douchebag, even if I’m still single aged 29, someone will look past my illness and see beauty.

I want to tell my younger self that I will be a success. Even though I’ve never been chosen to lead anything by my school peers, I will be a leader. I will have a good job, live independently, be tertiary qualified, receive awards and I will be a published and respected writer.

That’s the time I’d travel back to. 1985 to 1999. Not to experience those things again, but to tell my younger self that I’m worthy.

Comments

  2. I have just read your blog, Carly. It's very moving. You are an inspiration to many, I suspect:-)

    Have you thought of going to schools to talk about your illness and perhaps touch others in the school community who need to be told those things you wanted to tell your younger self??

  6. Carly, you are an inspiration to all of us. Rest assured that your strength of character will serve to inspire other young women who might be feeling overwhelmed, by showing them that life can indeed turn out unexpectedly fabulously.

    Best wishes, Poppy xox

  7. I like what they^ all said.
    I'd go back to my younger self too, and tell her to pay attention in school, to actually learn something, then when school leaving age was reached, to fight to stay in school instead of just doing what I was told to and leaving at 15.

  10. Carly, I've been avidly reading your blog for a few months now, but this post in particular really resonated with me. I have Asperger's Syndrome and so wish that I could tell my younger self many of these same things.

    Thank you for being such an inspiration 🙂

    J.

  11. Hi
    You dont know me… But sometimes i see you around… I wanted to tell you that i think you are pretty.. And i especially like how well put together you are. I liked the cute (mimco?) headband you wore today. Beauty is subjective.. And true beauty is who you are as a person.

    Plwas

  13. What a great post Carly – I hope your younger self would listen to you. I also suspect that the hardship you lived and fought through made you the strong independent person you are today. I don't know if that helps. Thanks for joining in. x

  17. Carly, what I love about your posts are that I can actually see you saying, doing all the things you write about. You are so beautifully 'transparent'. You are pretty awesome and someone I would love to have as a real friend! x

  18. What a lovely post, Carly. I'm so jealous of your confidence and self-assuredness. I wish I were half as brave as you! This is only the start of the wonderful things you're going to accomplish!

  20. We could all benefit from going back and reassuring our scared, little self that things will be okay. Your post is very inspiring. And, you are brave to go back and reassure your younger self about the future! Time travel can be useful, then!

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The material on Tune into Radio Carly is copyright. The writing in this blog is by Carly Findlay unless otherwise stated. Most photos in this blog are by Carly Findlay unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without permission from Carly Findlay. This blog represents my personal opinions and experiences. It does not reflect those of my employers'. The information I provide about ichthyosis is mostly based on personal experiences. Please seek medical advice or counseling before trying any new treatments I've written about.