Dear Future Me,
We’ve had quite a life so far, haven’t we? "Ups and downs" seems kind of silly to say, and is more than a cliché understatement. But look at where you are now! You have overcome some dark battles, forgotten about things that were irrelevant, and have let go of some things that were toxic. You never thought that you would make it through another day, but hey—you made it through so many days. Days that turned into weeks and weeks that turned into months. So here I am in the present, writing to you in the future with five things that I want you to remember when things get tough, frustrating, lonely, sad, or depressing.
1. Breathe
I want you to just slow down the world around you. You already know that you have gotten through days and days of stress, and you know that the world will keep on spinning. Just try and find some way to calm yourself down and bring your feet back to solid ground. Everything will all be okay. I want you to find a hobby that calms you down, like painting, writing, yoga, or baking. Just find something for you and breathe.
2. Forgive Yourself
Let’s face it. More often than not, you’re going to make a dumb mistake. Each mistake you make is a lesson, something to propel you into your future. Every mistake brings you closer to where you are supposed to be, which is kind of an odd perspective. Sometimes you need to step outside of yourself to assess what happened, forgive yourself for whatever decision you made, and just keep moving forward. Just because you do something terrible, it does not make you a terrible human being. We all slip. No one is perfect. Mom always said, “Your feelings are your feelings and they are never wrong.” Always remember that.
3. Maintain Your Relationship With Your Parents
I know you make your calls to mom and dad. I want you to stay close with them. Keep listening to their advice. They care about you more than you will ever know, and as the future approaches, they are growing older. Do not call them because you have to; call them because they are loving creatures who live to ensure your happiness and well-being. They loved each other enough to create you, and it is so beautiful to be able to connect with the souls that connected with each other to bring forth life—yours. They definitely know a lot more than you think they do, and sure, times might be different, but we all have the same human experiences. Get to know them for who they are and love them as people, not only as your parents.
4. Find The Humor and Laugh At Yourself
Okay, we are all stupid sometimes. Boy, have you shown your true colors more than once in the areas specifically pertaining to clumsiness or common sense. It’s good to laugh at yourself. I know that you are so hard on yourself, and it is so true that you are your own worst critic. I want you to smile when you fall, though maybe not at first. I want you to be able to smile while you're getting back up again. Smile at the fact that you’re trying again and again. Laugh when you make a joke that was awkward and laugh when you look like a hot mess when you’re running late. Laugh and find the humor in yourself, because life is too hard and stressful. Find joy in the little things.
5. It's Okay To Be Alone
This one I REALLY want you to pay attention to. Yes, relationships are nice and fun, and sure, they are everywhere, and they will always be constant reminders of what you aren’t a part of. However, being single is also nice and fun. It’s nice to have that time in your life when you are your first priority. It is so okay to figure things out for yourself. It’s okay if someone isn’t currently crushing on you, because that means the timing in your life isn’t right for a relationship yet. Remember that just because you are single or alone or feel lonely, it does NOT mean that you aren’t beautiful or funny or caring or quirky or talented. You are still important. You are still perfect. It is more than okay to have a date night alone. Fall in love with yourself.
I want you to keep on living your life. I want you to keep dreaming and pushing yourself. I want you to go outside of your comfort zone and to laugh at yourself and to forgive yourself and to breathe. I want you to make more friends and to just keep meeting people; meet as many new people as possible. I am so proud of you, of us. You are so important. I can’t wait to see how far we come.
Love,
Me.
