If you aren't completely in awe of Girl Meets World 's Rowan Blanchard yet, just wait until you read what Blanchard learned in 2015. The 14-year-old took to Instagram to pen another thoughtful, wise piece of writing about self-acceptance, showing compassion for yourself and others, and dealing with depression. In case you somehow missed it, Blanchard's post on intersectional feminism was one of the best reads of 2015, and it was just the beginning of the young feminist's writings on everything from social justice and why it's not OK to tell women to smile. The teen spent this past year being an articulate advocate for feminism while also growing as an actress on her hit TV show. You know, normal teen stuff.
As 2015 came to a close, Blanchard turned to Instagram to reflect on what she learned about herself this past year, and her post is so full of eloquence and wisdom you will once again be floored by how amazing this young woman is. In her post, Blanchard opens up about how valuable it was for her to learn to love herself. "I think I learned (and am still re-learning) that in order to actually spend the rest of your life with yourself contently, you must truthfully fall in love with yourself," Blanchard writes.
Self-acceptance was a big theme for Blanchard in 2015. She also revealed that she learned to be "less apologetic," to be more accepting of other teens' quests to figure this life thing out, and "that happiness and sadness are not mutually exclusive." Basically, she showed a capacity for self-reflection and forgiveness that precious few adults will ever exhibit.
In 2015, Blanchard and fellow teen activists like Amandla Stenberg and Chloe Moretz showed the world that adolescent voices should not be dismissed. It is so easy to fall into the trap of ignoring teens because you assume they are too young to have anything of value to say, but Blanchard and a growing number of young stars are showing the world that teen voices matter, and it's crucial to give adolescents role models worthy of their time.
Perhaps the most poignant part of Blanchard's post is when she discusses dealing with depression. The year was full of highs and lows for her, and she recognizes the emotional toll life can take on a person. "As I found myself, this year in particular, going through ups and downs with depression, I realized that instead of rejecting and ostracizing these teenage feelings (human feelings), I can learn to love the intensity of them and know that everything is momentary," Blanchard writes.
Blanchard has so much living ahead of her, but she has already shown the world true greatness. I hope 2016 holds beauty, opportunities, and even more chances for Blanchard to share what she learns about life with her fans. Read her full post below and prepare yourself for the most eloquent mic drop of wisdom you have ever seen.
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