We all know Kerry Washington as the badass protagonist on ABC’s “Scandal”. Recently the actress thought back to high school and gave some words of advice to her past self.
“Dear Kerry,
I’m talking to you around 18, so this is a time when you’re transitioning from high school to college. Lots on your mind, lots to be stressed out about, so here are some of my thoughts from the future: Make sure that your dreams are yours. Make sure that you are not pursuing the dreams that somebody thinks you should have, because dreams take a lot of work and a lot of support, and you’ll be more inspired to go after them if they are really, really yours. Make a plan, but know that sometimes when you make a plan, God laughs because God has another plan, and that plan is probably better than your plan. You just have to hang in there and be patient for it.
I had a yoga teacher who said to me always stay on your own yoga mat, because sometimes if you’re in headstand and you’re too busy looking at the person on the other mat, you could literally break your neck. I feel like that’s a really good metaphor for life, to stay on your own path. Do what’s right for you. You can’t compare your insides with somebody else’s outsides because you never know what’s going on with somebody else, really. Just know that everybody has growing pains and the only way out is through. You’re going to find therapy and it’s going to be amazing!
The things that challenge you the most in life are probably going to be the things that you look back on and are so grateful for because they made you better. So, the things that challenge you, try to be grateful for them and try to imagine how they have been put in your life specifically to help you. Take a deep breath. Know that nothing’s forever. If people are pushing you to excel it’s probably because they really care about you, but just do your best. That’s all that matters. That will lead you to where you’re supposed to go if you really are doing your best.”