I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 22!

This month marks our 22nd Birthday here at The Juniper Co. We thought we would have a bit of fun in honour of the occasion, sharing some golden nuggets of advice that we would like to have given our 22-year-old selves!

What would you say to your younger self if you got the opportunity? Here are the contributions from the Juniper team:

Nicki: I would advise my 22-year-old self not to be afraid to dive into something wholeheartedly. I started working in London in my early twenties and, as I was heavily involved with horses, I strongly resisted moving to live in the city full time. My parents tried to advise me not to split my energies, but at the time I didn’t want to give up any of my passions. Looking back now, I realise a few years in a lifetime is not very long – I could have fully embraced city life for a while and then headed back to my rural roots later. Interestingly, I saw something similar happen with my daughter Clare, recently, which I got to observe from a different perspective this time!

Hannah: The advice I would give to my 22-year-old self would be to spend less time worrying about things that haven’t happened yet, because everything has always worked out for the best in the end! This also makes me think of one of my favourite quotes, “This too shall pass,” as it’s something I’ve always tried to remember whenever I’ve been through a difficult time. It also applies when things are going well, as a reminder to enjoy the present moment!

Ann: I would say to my 22-year-old self, get to know you; your priorities, your passions, your loves, your goals. It’s very easy to fall into place with others’ expectations, and what the media is selling you as the 'norm'. You have your own mind and uniqueness, so use it - that’s what it’s there for! Take a step back to recognise your possibilities and be brave enough to step out of your comfort zone.

Alison: I would encourage my 22-year-old self to keep following your dreams. Some of my best experiences have come when I have been pursuing the things that I am most passionate about, and it would be great to be able to reassure my younger self to keep believing and it will come. I would also say, stay true to yourself and trust your instincts, as that is when you will perform at your best and be happiest.

Clare (Juniper alumni): My advice would be similar to my mum’s - don’t be afraid of an adventure and don’t worry if you don’t have everything worked out in your early twenties! Like her, I was very rooted in rural life and adamant I would never move to the city. However, everything changed for me after I made the decision to go travelling. I spent some time living on Bondi Beach in Australia and absolutely loved it. It opened my mind to a whole new world and, after I returned home to the UK, I made a move to London. It took me until I was 26, but I think everyone is doing things a bit later these days after the pandemic and it was also good to get some life experience first