Be Yourself

Don't change so
people will like you.
Be yourself,
and the right people
will love the real you.
...Author Unknown

My 17 year old self...over 50 years ago. I was a Southern California beach girl who rode and showed horses, loved music, singing, creating art, the sun and dogs. I later taught swimming to children and was a lifeguard at summer camp. I had long brown hair below my derriere.

This was taken in Malibu, CA, while sitting on a fence with my boyfriend. He was the nephew of Buddy Ebsen, from The Beverly Hillbillies and more.

I kept my horse at Will Rogers Historic Park and went to horse shows and competed in Hunters & Jumpers. It was a wonderful life.

I changed it to B&W for the last day of February. Nice on Black.

Letters to my 17 year old self:

https://apurposeinpain.com/a-letter-to-my-younger-self/

https://tomblog.rip/10-pieces-of-advice-i-wish-i-could-give-my-17-year-old-self/

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=626

[gloria jones]

Beautiful! B&W suits this photo perfectly. The Beach Boys wrote a song about California Girls...:).

[Casablanca]

What a beauty ❤️

[Beryl Lloyd]

Beautiful image - and lots of beautiful memories ! fav

[Danette Thompson]

Beautiful image

[Suzie]

Great photo!

[Tunia McClure]

You are still that girl inside.

[Heather]

Beautiful, especially on black! Tunia says it perfectly! xo Fav

[Kathy]

You were that girl the rest of us wanted to be.

[Steve Chappell]

Awesome portrait

[Shutterbug]

Hope you kept the same carefree spirit as you aged.

[CC Folk]

@seattlite @casablanca @beryl @danette @tunia @365projectorgheatherb @randystreat @swchappell @shutterbug49

Thank you. I wish I still weighed close to 105 pounds but I do have a free spirit. I want to enjoy life, create, look for what is beautiful in the world, be kind, love animals, travel and have fun.

[Heather]

@gardenfolk That's a fabulous list!!!!

[CC Folk]

@365projectorgheatherb Thank you, Heather. :)

[Sandy Z W]

❤️ Beautiful but still beautiful and don't you forget it.