Dear Silly,

It’s hard to believe that you’ll be 12 in just a couple months. It's weird for me to think I can have a real conversation with you, hear me out. You've always been so young, but now you're transforming into a mature young lady with impeccable manners and a whole lot of personality. You give me advice, and it's relieving to know I always have two best friends by my side (you and Mia).

It’s strange to think that you’re life is just starting to unfold for the first time into some sort of path. And if you’re anything like your older sisters, you’ll try to plan it out. With all your journals, it's not an outlandish idea to think that you'll make up innumerable lists trying to order your life-- much like I've tried to do.

Don’t.

But if you do, have an end goal but be flexible. Try to obtain your goal, but don’t freak out when things don’t go as planned. Things will always work out in your favor, whether they seem like it or not. You’re still so young (even though you look so old), and you have time to explore all that life has in store for you, at your leisure.

Work hard in all that you do. Work hard in your studies (you can never be overdressed or overeducated), work hard at being nice to everyone you encounter-- everybody. Never leave anyone without having made them smile or letting them know that you care about them. Be patient, and call me often.

Because soon you won’t be in Grand Rapids at your cherished environmental school. Soon you’ll be in another city maybe, studying something completely obscure to what you think now. Maybe you’ll be on another continent or right alongside me. You have your entire life ahead of you, and you’ll always have me by your side, no matter where you are nor where I am.

Love you always,

One of your older sisters