What I would tell my younger self on my 44th birthday

It was a chilly Monday in 1975 when my mom gave birth to me. And here I am. 44 years later, being a flight attendant for 20 years now and still going strong.

I went through some ups and downs, highs and lows, but never lost my passion for that crazy thing called life. Even in my darkest hour, I knew this will pass. I’ve shared a very personal blogpost two years ago, where I talked about my toxic marriage and how I was able to get out of this relationship. Yes, I’m divorced. Yes, I’m single, nd no, I don’t have kids. But I can tell you that I’ve never felt happier in my life. And I’m not ashamed of my past. It’s a part of me which shaped me into the woman that I am today.
I feel so free. And free means free mind, free soul, free body. It’s the best thing EVER I did for myself. So why am I telling you this story? Because life is so precious. And we only have one life, so why wasting our time? I’m taking this opportunity to remind you to live a happy fulfilled life that is centered around you. Let me tell you that you are amazing and wonderful! You are one of a kind, unique, awesome and more than enough. And I will never get tired of telling you how amazing you are. Yes, YOU!

Birthdays were never a big thing in our family. So no biggie. I take this time of the year to reflect and be grateful. Here are some things that I would tell my younger self with lots of love and compassion in my heart. So listen dear Ji.

Personal

1. Don’t waste your time with the wrong people.
Oh boy, we all have been there. Running with the wrong crowd to be cool or just to belong to a certain group. For what reason? Be your own best friend. You don’t need the validation from other people. Even close friends or family members can be the wrong peer group. Toxic people will slowly ruin your life. Get rid of them. Now! Surround yourself with people who empower you to become better, who lift you and your ideas up. You are the average of the 5 people you are surrounded by. Choose carefully.

2. #selfcare
I wish I knew this hashtag when I was younger. We were so busy living our lives. Running nonstop from A to B, operating on the highest level to success. Until the first burnout hit you out of nowhere. It’s never too late to eat healthy food, exercise and take care of your mental and physical health. We all want success, but not for the sake of a burnout or sickness. The time is now to listen to your body. I can highly recommend journaling. Write down all the things you are grateful for and focus on the good in your life. One of my favorite quote is by Oprah. Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.

3. Saying no and letting go
Saying no means saying yes to yourself. I was raised in a Korean family, were you never say things in a direct way. It was hard to me to say NO, but eventually I had to learn it. I was stuck in so many situations where I regretted saying yes just to please others. Saying no will spark joy. Believe me. And I wish the jounger Ji was strong enough to let go of certain situtations and people. It’s crutial to know when to let go. If a situation no longer serves you, let go. When a person doesn’t value you, let go. You only deserve the best!

Beauty

1. Take care of your hands and feet.
As much as I am executing religiously my daily skincare, hands and feet could deserve some more extra love. Especially our hands are always exposed to UV rays often unprotected and I can see how it affected my skin. Do yourself a favor and use a handcream with SPF and anti-aging ingredients. Pamper your feet with a warm bath and rich cream for a baby soft feeling. Thank your feet for carrying you around the entire day and give them a relaxing massage.

2. Protect your neck and decolletage.
When you do your skincare routine, include your neck and decollage. Your skincare doesn’t end at the chin line. Go down further and thank me later.

3. Drink more water.
This one is really tough. I’ve never been tought to drink enough. You see how habits can shape your life. Water is so essential for everything. Not only for your skin, but digestion, mood and overall health. Drink water. All day, every day. I keep water close to me when I work at home or in the airplane. You see it, you drink it.

Style

1. Quality over quantity
This is a process. We all have gone through different phases in our fashion life. Sale finds and cheap pieces are cool, but do you really need these? Shop smarter. It will save you a lot of money at the end. And quality always wins over quantity in the long rung.

2. You do you.
Trends are like waves. They come and go. There is literally nothing that didn’t have a revival in fashion history. You know what suits you. Don’t be the headless chicken running after each trend. You do you.

3. Be your own muse.
Nothing is more fashionable and chic than wearing something with self confidence. You breathe life into looks and make them special in your very own way. Head up, chin up, fashionista! Confidence is the key. Whatever you wear, be your own muse. You own it girl!

Could you relate to the one or other topic? What would you tell your younger self? Regretting things does not make it better. You can always do better, so start now and let go of things that doesn’t serve you anymore.
Whatever it is, do it with love and passion. Make every day the best day of your life.
I’m sitting in the plane right now on my way to LA, and I have a big smile on my face. Not because it’s my birthday tomorrow(it’s still the 26th as I’m writing this blogpost). I just feel very content and at ease in this moment. The past weeks have been tough due to some personal issues, but they are all solved. There has been tears and sleepless nights, but it’s all good now. I’m happy and to be back in La La Land and ready to enjoy my birthday weekend with lots of good food and sunshine. Sharing one last quote by Oprah. The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate! Bless you loads. Thanks for reading.

Love,
Ji