Hey kid,

You made me into the person that I am today. All your decisions, actions, and lessons learned shaped me into who I am today. I am stronger, smarter, and better because of everything you've done for me. I'm so grateful for you, but, come on, you deserve better. I deserve better.

You're a perfectionist. I get that. You still are, to this day. That is perfectly okay; nothing is wrong with that. But you're spending so much time on the small things, you're not looking at the bigger picture. That one sentence isn't going to change the letter grade on your essay, one wrong note won't kick you from a superior to an excellent. Everything is a lot better than you think it is, trust me. You're good at a lot of things you do, but you don't have to be good at everything.

Just because she's pretty doesn't mean you're not pretty. Sunflowers look completely different from fairy lights, but they're both beautiful things. Beauty is all around us, all around you. More importantly, beauty is inside of you. Let your actions be kind-hearted, let your thoughts be good-willed, and let your smile shine brightly. Let your ideas and acceptance be the most beautiful thing about you.

Yes, you are beautiful. But you're so much more than that. You're smart, innovative, kind, caring. You have so much more to offer this world. You are going to change the world, but you can't do that if you don't have the confidence. Be confident. Be confident in yourself and your actions. Grab your future by the collar. You'll thank yourself later. Heck, I'll thank you now.

Little me, I've grown a lot since you. I know I'm writing this to tell you to change, but the truth is, I don't know if I would be the way that I am if you'd taken this advice. I guess what I'm trying to say is, you are going to be who you are, regardless of anything else. Try to love that person. You're going to be stuck with yourself for the rest of your life.

Love,

Yourself