Dear Younger Me,
I just want to first let you know that if I could go back in time and be in your shoes, I would in a heartbeat. I will admit, we have changed a lot over the years. We have done so many things to be proud of and so many things we aren't willing to talk about, and that's okay. But there are a few things I feel the need to tell you about the life you're going to live, so listen close, young me.
We have gone through so much. We have seen loved ones pass, friendships end, and we have endured the deepest of heartbreaks. If there's one thing I'm begging you to do, it’d be to keep your innocence because it's so precious and once you lose it, there's no turning back. And I mean that in every sense of the phrase. Keep your childish ways and don't let the cruelty of the world dull your smile and never, ever, ever, take what you have for granted.
This might sound crazy to you now, but dad is not mean. He says no for reasons that I now understand, that you wouldn't. He loves you, more than the sun loves rising every morning. He's your hero and your first love, I promise. Every day you get to spend with him, cherish it, because once you move out, things get hard and seeing your favorite person will become a difficult task. And about mom, she never changes. She's your best friend, always will be, don't worry.
Please, please, please don't let those boys who make fun of you in grade school make you feel inferior. Because you are not. You may have crooked teeth, glasses and always dress like a boy, but trust me, it gets better. Your eyes correct themselves and you'll get braces. And you are beautiful no matter what. And if you forget, ask mom, she’ll tell you.
You're also going to have some really great people enter your life. They may not be what you expect either. They may be 89 years old, a veteran, and become your best friend. And when they pass, it'll be hard, but the lessons learned and the knowledge gained will be forever remembered and appreciated.
Let's get real for a second. Boys suck, remember that. Not all of them will love you, and that's still weird to me because we are so great. Those few lucky boys that you thought you loved, they were not the ones. They become the best of friends, but that's all they'll be. Heartbreak is tough, but you're tougher. Never let yourself wonder what could have been. What could have been, never was because God has a special plan for you.
And finally, never stop believing in yourself. You have the ability to do great things, and I promise you will. In high school, you'll be a great athlete and maybe even prom queen (wink,wink) and in college you'll be writing awesome articles for Odyssey while on a plane to Dallas for the internship you received. Yes, you read me right. You have so many great memories to look forward to and that I get to look back on. We can consider ourselves to be one of the luckiest people out there. So stay positive even when it's hard and don't give up on us because our future is bright little one.
