Medium Publication, Growing Up
Girl’s Talk: You Can’t Cover Up With Lipstick & Powder
Body image, trying to balance emotions and finding a sense of perspective, are also issues I had to address, as did my daughters and so will girls hitting puberty this very year.
Growing up has always been fraught with problems.
Lipstick and Powder will be a place for my personal memoirs about growing up.
However, if you are female and have a growing up story you wish to share that you think is poignant, contrasts/supports one of my own memoirs or may help others, then I will be hosting the occasional guest memoir, which will have its own section on the magazine.
Chatting about the past
When my partner and I sit down at dinner, we often talk about our individual school days. The funny stories as well as the harrowing ones — such as being bullied — which can and will happen no matter what year you were born. It is as relevant today as it was when I was a kid.
Body image, trying to balance your emotions and finding a sense of perspective are also issues I had to address, as did my daughters and so will the girls who are hitting puberty this very year.
Although, some things have changed due to technical advances and political events. And of course this will have a bearing on all young people today, but many problems repeat, generation after generation. Those relating to family, friends, school, self, crushes, relationships… the list is lengthy.
I remember chatting to my gran about her growing up years, way back in time. She was a teen just before the roaring 20s hit the scene. She talked of navigating the teenage maze, which included school gossip and first boyfriends. We laughed together about different situations, but I remember thinking wow, a similar thing happened to me too.
My memory
I have one of those weird memories. I can recall exact dates of different life events and can also see them play out in vivid imagery. Some have said I may have Hyperthymesia:
Hyperthymesia is also known as highly superior autobiographical memory (HSAM). According to a 2017 study, people with hyperthymesia can accurately and readily recall numerous details about events that have occurred in their life.
I am not sure my memory is that good, although I do have an uncanny ability to also grasp the emotions and thoughts that were being felt and expressed at the time of the scene I am remembering.
I wonder if this is because I kept extensive journals/diaries as a teenager? Which I still have today.
Keeping diaries
Indeed, I really sympathize with current young women as they are totally overstimulated and prodded by social media practically 24/7. This does not allow them anytime to think about the past or indeed the future. It’s good to dwell in the present now and then, but not constantly.
Many parents are trying to encourage their children to spend time away from their devices and enjoy being outside in nature as well as interacting face to face rather than via video, which was par for the course when I was a child/teen.
Personally, I would also suggest the young keep a daily or weekly written diary or scrapbook of their lives, thoughts and feelings. By doing this, they will be able to reinforce their sense of self and also provide a log of a moment in time which will become history in the future.
My memoirs
There is nothing remarkable about my memoirs. I was very much an ordinary girl. An introvert trying to be an extrovert. A lanky teen wanting to be an attractive woman. A bookworm wishing I was a party animal.
The stories will chronicle about nine years of my life, from starting secondary school to celebrating my 20th birthday.
If you are a teenager reading my stories, I hope you see that the way young people behaved and the issues they faced — in some ways — has not changed so very much over the years.
Come with me on my journey and listen to some girl’s talk.
Contact details: Email [email protected] and Twitter @more_matters. Subscribe to me here… so you don’t miss an episode.
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