Erina Reddan has worked with words, ideas, and stories all her life. She started out as a journalist, working in radio and television, and was awarded the prestigious Walkley Award for her work as an ABC foreign correspondent. She has a Master’s Degree in Professional Writing, and a PhD in Creative Writing, focused on girl warriors and ball gowns! Her family claims she can glamorise a handful of facts beyond recognition in the service of an entertaining story, sometimes at the expense of truth but always in favour of wonder.
Dear gorgeous you,
I wish you knew how amazing you are with your fierceness, your fire, and your love of social justice. We’re here together for just a few moments so I’m going to be super quick. I’ve got some top rules for you to live by, which I wish I’d known when I was you. But since you don’t love rules, I’m going to call them tips. And let’s add a little magic, just because you love it. (Not the illusion and tricks kind but the fairy dust kind. Obviously!!!)
Ten magic tips to a great life
1. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FITTING IN
NOBODY fits in. So don’t waste time thinking just because you’re poor and don’t know important people you’ll always be an outsider. Just smash through that glass and be your own quirky self with all the other kooky people.
2. YOU AIN’T YOUR BODY
I know you worry about what people see when they look at you, but you’ll live a much bigger life if you get that you are so much more than just your muscles and bones, your cheek structure, and your eyes. So, talk lovingly to the you who you really are deep down. And do it ALLLL the time.
3. TAKE UP SPACE
Despite all the burn inside, it’s so ingrained in you to be polite, to do what you’re told and to ask as little as possible from life. Dump that as soon as you can. The key here is to listen to your inner voice. You can ask for what you want, say no, get visible and still be kind.
4. TRUST, BABY
You are amazing and you got this. I know you don’t feel it – that you feel worthless and like you don’t deserve anything and that nobody loves you and there’s darkness all around. But in the end, that’s just where you came from. Come closer – because this is the best bit – IT IS NOT WHERE YOU’RE GOING.
5. FIND YOUR PEOPLE
You feel so alone but soon you’ll find those who, no matter what you do, will always know you mean the best. You’ll find your home.
6. DELIGHT IN YOURSELF
You think because you were just furniture in the background and were told not to get too big for your boots that you don’t light up the world just by being you. That was just a bad few years. You are going to live a long life, so the number of good years will so outweigh the bad. So, laugh a lot and enjoy yourself while you’re getting there.
7. LOVE YOUR MISTAKES
For you now, it feels like making mistakes means that people will stop loving you, but mistakes pave the way to your success so get used to them – make sure you tick off at least one mistake each day. Perfection smerfection!
8. BE A WARRIOR FOR YOURSELF
Not just for others, which is so much easier for you. Surprisingly, this means asking for help. We all need it. It doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. It just means for this moment you need help. Maybe tomorrow you’ll be the one giving it.
9. MAKE MONEY.
Weird one, I know. But money can be magic. It means a way out if you need it, and the means to enjoy wherever you are if you don’t. It’s independence magic.
10. OOPS!
There is no #10. That’s just one more thing to know: life is full of plot twists and turns, so you have to be able to just go with it.
Not that living by all these magic tips is going to change the way we’ve lived our lives when you look from the outside. But from the inside… Ah! The difference they’ll make. It’s a wild ride ahead of you. See you when we both get to ninety. (I know, unimaginable!)
Love,
Erina
