Dear 10-year-old me,

They say to never look back into the past for too long but I guess I’m doing so writing this and all. Then again, what’s living without breaking a few rules, huh?

You’re 10 and quite frankly I remember you quite well. You know, the time where you were still going through that phase that you pretty much thought and wished you were Hannah Montana. You basically were by memorizing every lyric she belted out and continuing to play it through your CD player on the bus ride to and from school. You know, that silly CD player that seemed to skip and scratch the CD more than actually play it. And it didn’t help that you had blond hair either. How every little event that happened in your life seemed to be like the biggest deal in the world, even though I don’t remember a good percentage of them today.

I want to laugh and pick on you for hours on end, but looking back on you, you were pretty great. You’re living in a time where you didn’t spend hours browsing through social media sites on your cellphone, convincing your parents to buy you an iPhone so you could spend more time on that than being outside. Where you didn’t base how good a picture was off likes on an Instagram photo or the ratio of one’s Twitter account. You weren’t engrossed in watching anything and everything on YouTube. A span in your life where it didn’t matter what you wore. That stage where you still fit in those comfy clothes that were hand-me-downs from your older cousins. I mean, who could turn down clothes? I wish I still had that opportunity, you lucky duck.

I’m not saying you suddenly started caring what others thought of you, especially with how you’re displayed online. Trust me when I say that you’re the same positive goofball that used to spend her time making parrots out of paper and playing sports in the backyard with your little neighborhood gang. However, I want to fill you in on a few things. Call this cheating because I’m the future you, but you can thank me later.

Right now, you want to grow up and get your license and make something of yourself. I know, I know...you’re sick and tired of all those silly math time tests and rewriting words each day for the spelling test on Friday. Sooner or later, you’re going to get sick and tired of going through the same process of school each day but you will make the most of it. It’s what every one of us does. You’re closest friends are going to pull apart and distance themselves from you, and that’s OK. You’re going to remember the good memories with them and know that not everything lasts forever, even though you wish it did. You’ll make more friends and they will be epic also. You’ll surround yourself with great people who influence you and push you to make your life better and you’ll surround yourself with people that you probably know better not to be around. Either way, you’ll learn life lessons that you’ll hold tight onto years and years later. People will hurt you now and again. You’ll disappoint your parents at times, but they’ll still love you and support you no matter what. You’ll drive yourself to make the right decision and often you’ll find out it wasn’t the best decision. But above all this, you’ll learn that it’s OK not to feel OK sometimes. You’re not alone though, and you know that. The bad days will make the good days feel even better.

The storms coming up seem big, but if you attack them the right way, the rainbow will come sooner. It’ll all go calm once again, as long as you keep moving forward. I of all people know you will.

Right now, the world doesn’t seem as big as it actually is. Your dreams are huge and despite what people think of them, you must prompt yourself to pursue them. The reason why I’m writing this though isn’t just to tell you that you turn out all right. It’s to tell you that despite not wanting to, you’re going to be forced to “grow up;” to mature and try your best to act the age you are. To remain wise and be the bigger person, even though you want to do otherwise.

Just because you’re growing up from childhood does not mean you have to kill the spirit. I’m still the same kid you are now, I’m just a little taller and I’ve got a lot more life lessons under my belt, many minutes older than you, and with more information stored in my brain. Still the same old you, basically. There’s no story about how I’m new and all.

As much as you want to (and I wish you could), you can’t slow down time. It’s going to fly by faster than the speed of light and it’s going to be weird. Some days are going to feel super long and other days, they’ll feel seconds long.

Keep making the most of them because you’ll love them, trust me.

Oh and don’t hesitate to pick up a Nerf gun and take down anyone and everyone. You’re never too old to feel 10 at times. Just because you have to get older every day doesn’t mean you have to stop having fun. The world is your backyard and you’re going to enjoy it.

Happiness comes from knowing that you’re growing up, but you’ve still got that little-kid feeling with you stored forever. Don’t let go of that. It’s a magical feeling.

Love always,

The girl who asks herself every day, “Am I making 10-year-old me proud?”

P.S. RIP Hannah Montana. It’s going to be okay.