Letter to Nina Clancy, age 16.

Having this chat with my younger self really made me really think … I am so lucky, I can honestly say that there is nothing I would change. The hard moments and the wonderful moments have made me who I am.

If I was to give a few pointers, here is what I would say. The first thing I would tell myself is that it’s going to be OK.

I was very intense when I was younger, driven and hardworking. I worried I didn’t know what I wanted to do. It seemed everyone else knew what they wanted to be, I never have.

Now that I look back, I realise you don’t have to have a clear plan or have your life mapped out. You just have to spot the opportunities when they come along, grab them with both hands, you never know where you will end up.

I would tell my younger self to relax and enjoy the ride. Work to live, not live to work!

Believe in yourself! Trust your gut. I lacked confidence and self-belief. By all means listen to others for advice and support. Others don’t always know best. It took a fair few mistakes before I understood to trust myself and my decisions.

Have fun, do things you enjoy, that make you smile. Don’t stay in a job or a relationship you don’t like because you feel you have to. Life is too short.

Don’t put off that difficult conversation, it won’t go away, it won’t make things easier. I learnt this lesson a little late in life. The quicker you deal with problems the better in the long run.

Another little tip for my younger self would be to exercise regularly. It helps with every aspect of life. I took up jogging and hill walking in my 40s. What a difference, everything is much clearer, decisions seem simpler and I can sleep like a baby!

Try and enjoy every minute of life and not worry about the things you can’t change.