While cruising down the road this week, one of my favorite Brad Paisley songs came on the radio. “Letter to Me” always makes me smile, because it feels really personal and relatable. I started to wonder what I would write to myself if I could write a letter to me. Then I realized that I was only two years older than the recipient of Paisley’s letter, so I couldn’t have quite the same level of perspective.
Instead, I decided to figure out what I would say to future me if I had the chance. When I worry about the future, I don’t really worry too much about ‘adulting’ and getting a good career. I worry that I’ll get too caught up in making myself a success, I’ll put my job first and lose track of what is really important to me. It’s easy for me now to say I should travel spontaneously and call home every so often and treasure those around me because I have relatively little responsibility, and thus it’s not too hard to hold myself accountable. So, I took the lyrics and edited them for my own situation, to remind myself to keep my priorities straight once all the responsibility starts falling on my shoulders. Cue: guitar introduction.
If I could write a letter to me
And send it ahead in time to myself at thirty-three
First I'd prove it's me by saying
Look under your bed, there better be a Bible
And some famous classics you’ve read
And then I'd say I’ll bet it's tough
When you’re paying bills every month
And yeah I know you really like to
Splurge shop and dye your hair
But all I can say is there’s more to life than the brands that you wear
And I hope you got so much going for you
Going right
But I know at thirty-three
Your younger self won’t seem that bright
You know what’s right for you
But still you feel like there’s
A chance, you ought to cut yourself some slack
And you want to do more than just survive
But you'll plan more lists and you'll start to see
Why you took the time to write this letter to me
As you start to approach January 28
Always call your Grandma, she’ll love the time you take
And when you go on dates with new guys
Let yourself be a fool
When you find the right one he’ll love it, turns out he’s pretty cool
Each and every time you have a fight
Remember that there are bigger things than being right
And you should really thank the mail man
And strangers from time to time
Don’t forget amidst your schedule
One kind word could make a whole day shine
I’m sure you got so much going for you
Going right
But I know at thirty-three
It's hard to not plan your whole life
If you get to go to Maui
Don’t choose to work instead
Because you should remember
You can’t take it with you when you’re dead
Trust me you'll prefer to be by the sea
And you'll thank me for this letter to me
Don’t get too far in your head
You've made new friends
Take a look at your kids and life
And I'll end by saying listen here,
Make every year
The best year of your life
I guess I'll see you in the mirror
When you’re a grown woman
P.S. go visit home every chance you can
And oh you got so much going for you
Going right
But I know, I’m nineteen
And I can’t see past Friday night
I hope you studied Spanish
I wish you took a cooking class
I wish that you don't worry, let it be
I'll say keep up your faith and you'll see
You might be glad I wrote this letter to me.
