I know, I know, my blog is a fashion blog, I’m not an agony aunt am I? But, I am a ‘teen’ as such, which means surely I can write about ‘teenage stuff’, non? Now, I’m not a full on teen for sure, I’m only in my 1st year of ‘teenage life’, but when it comes to knowing how you might feel about ‘looks’ and ‘insecurity’, I know quite a bit… I think. I have 2 brothers and 1 sister, all 3 of which have been through teenage life, so I guess it’s rubbed off on me. I don’t really think there are many places out their which support teens, written by teens, so the idea of making a little guide for all us youngster’s seemed like a good one. I’m not going to tell you how to be the best son or daughter, or how to avoid acne and … ‘girl stuff’, I’m going to give you my advice on ‘Being So Darn Awesome’.

We all have insecurities, whether we are young or old. Here are just 4 examples of typical insecurities… ‘Weirdo’ (perhaps you dress differently compared to your friends – you are not a Weirdo, I was just using the word), ‘Boobies’ (you have a smaller or larger ‘chest’ area and don’t like it), ‘Spotty’ (you have quite a few pesky spots and feel ugly) and ‘Skinny’ (you are smaller – or larger – than your friends). There are other insecurities of course, you might not like a certain feature of your body, or you might feel like you are a bit too loud in character, whatever it is, it’s totally normal to have them in this day and age. I fit perfectly in the ‘Skinny’ zone. I’m slim, and it’s because of my genes, but I still feel insecure even though I know the reason for it.

Whatever ‘category’ you slot into, I am going to make us all think, that we are awesome (hopefully) by the end of this post. We should probably start with Step number 1?
Step 1: Identify your categories and write them down. 
If you haven’t already done so, pick out your insecurity, if you have more than 1, pick your biggest one, or pop yourself into 2, or 3 different categories. My Answer – Skinny, Boobies & Buck Teeth (uh huh). Now, write them down. On a piece of paper. GO. *gets pen and paper*

Step 2: Write down your reasons.
Why don’t you like these features? Why are you insecure about them? My Answer – I’m thin compared to other people I know, I have a flat chest and my teeth stick out so I can’t do a ‘teeth’ smile. Your reasons might be completely different from mine, and that is totally fine. Having an insecurity is NORMAL. Norrrrmmaaaal! You are not weird for having one. I have one, my cat (maybe) has one, WE ALL HAVE THEM! (I think)

Step 3: Write down some things you like about yourself, some things that you would never change! Yes, I am telling you to be vain, but who CARES. No one does, unless you go round to all your friends like ‘I’m soooo beautiful aren’t I? YES I AM!’, yeah no one likes that! My Answer: My hair and it’s colour, my eyes and my height (ha!). Your’s might be the fact that you have absolutely perfect skin, or you have amazing legs, whatever it is, cherish it. Just smile and go ‘Yeah. I really like those features!’

Step 4: Read the following, and understand why YOU, are SO darn awesome!
I’ve written down some steps on, forgetting your insecurities. You can still have them, I will let you do that, but making your mind think that they are not that bad, will make you a better, and happier person. Read on…

Weirdo: As I said at the beginning, you are NOT a weirdo if you dress differently (quite frankly I would be calling myself one… paha), I repeat, you are NOT. But, I understand where you are coming from. When it comes to mufti days (home clothes at school days), parties and meeting up with friends, dressing ‘yourself’ might be harder. I used to worry that I stuck out like a sore thumb, until our teacher told us about a boy who had the same insecurity. He wanted to wear brightly coloured clothes, and was getting bullied, but in the end he just stuck up for himself and did what ever he wanted (clothes wise that is). Go for it. After all, there is only one of you on this planet, so you may as well have an identity! What To Do? Wear what you want, when you want (well, when you can), and flaunt it. If needs be, just tone it down a bit, but don’t change what you wear for others.

Boobies: I said I wasn’t going to talk about ‘girl stuff’ didn’t I? Hm… #awks But, I have to discuss it. I feel for you. I have nothin’… eep. I am really saying this on the internet?! (Yes Tolly, you really are)… oh gosh. Us girls, we ‘develop’ at a different rate, don’t expect you and your best friend to be in bras at the exact same time. It’s quite unlikely it will happen. If you have a ‘bigger’ chest area, you could flaunt it! Walk out there and go, ‘I’m a woman. Oh HELL yeah.’ – well, I mean… you don’t have to but, if you do… please record it. If you are like moi, and you um… are rather ‘small’ in the chest department, then all I can say is, that you are still young and free! You have nothing wobbling about whilst playing sports, (this could quite possibly be the most wrong sounding thing I have ever written!) just, take your own spin on things. Help me out here… What To Do? Flaunt it, and don’t worry. It will happen one day, and we are all different.

Spotty: If you deal with acne and you feel ‘ugly’. Don’t. Please don’t. I know spots aren’t the best looking things in the world, but I take it as a thing showing that you are still young, because you only really get acne through adolescence, which means that it is expressing the time of your life that you never get back, whether you loved your teenage life, or you hated it. Just show them off. You never know, old biddies on their buggies, (hahahah), might be jealous and want to be your age again, so let their memories flourish. I bet you never thought of it like that, did you?! If you do want to conceal your ugly  beautiful face, don’t cover it all up. I recommend a BB, or a CC, or a DD  Cream because they don’t cover everything, they just conceal and make you feel a bit more comfortable in your own skin. What To Do? Don’t wear a balaclava. Don’t hide from the world. Remind the old biddies (haha, on their buggies) of their childhood, and only cover up slightly.

 Skinny: I’m not saying this just to the thinner people of the world, I’m saying this also to the slightly bigger people. Unless you are ill, you are Anorexic or Obese, or you do no exercise or you eat no vegetables or fruit what so ever and your diet only consists of 1 grape a day, or 2 Big Macs a day, then to be quite frank, you shouldn’t worry. If you are worried you are too thin, then don’t force feed yourself, don’t go on a weight gaining diet, because when you are a teenager, your weight size can change and go all over the place. One month you might be a so called ‘skinny mini’ and the next you are almost the same as an average teen. Everything changes, so do not fear. Your growth spurt will come in time! If you think you are on the ‘bigger’ end of the scale, then that could be because you are a developing woman (or man), so your weight is just a bit bigger than normal. I knew someone who dieted even though they were obviously going through ‘the big P’ (you know what I mean). What To Do? Think about your age and your health. If you are healthy, don’t panic. Things can change quickly. Just wait!

If you have gotten this far, you have officially completed the guide to becoming a DARN awesome teenager. I hope this has changed your minds on things and made things look a bit more positive. Don’t forget that it is totally normal to have insecurities, but you are perfect who ever you are (well, I mean, unless you have murdered someone etc, but that’s totally different). YOU ARE SO DARN AWESOME. *puts crown on your head* Now, go and treat yourself to a nice pot of Ben & Jerry’s or a Dominoes pizza, because that solves everything.