Hey You,

I want you to stop rushing.

Stop trying to grow up, have your first kiss, attend your first party. I want you to stop trying to figure yourself out, and to start living in the present moment.

Oh what I would do to be a little kid again. Playing outside until the street lights came on with not a single worry in the world. But what bothers me is that every time I reflect back to these moments, I always remember how eager I was to grow up and be a teenager.

You've dedicated so much time into your future. You've got all of these plans and ideas of what you want to make out of your life. But what about now? What about today?

Pretty soon this will all be gone. Today, tomorrow. You'll wake up and it'll be the end of the week, the end of the month, or even the end of the year and you'll stand there questioning, "my god, where did the time go?".

I still remember my first day as a freshman in high school. Everyone swore up and down that the time would fly and they reminded me daily to cherish those last four years. I never listened. I let it all flash right before my eyes and before I knew it, I was walking across that stage to receive my diploma. And that was that.

Then comes college and life doesn't get any easier. What with working, the homework and maintaining a questionable social life. No one can ever fully prepare you for the struggling transition you need to make. But I don't want you to worry, you'll figure it all out.

Whenever you start to doubt yourself, I want you to remember that you've got this. You are strong and independent. You have the ability to sail oceans and walk across moons, you just need to put your mind to it.

And I want you to remember to never do anything if your whole heart isn't in it. I spent way too much time trying to make other people happy. My friends, family members, and people I didn't even know. But what meaning does life truly have if you yourself aren't happy? This is it. This is your only shot.

Keep in mind that you're going to mess up. You're going to make decisions that aren't always the most logical and it'll leave you in a sour place. Things will happen, friends will f*ck you over and you'll start to question if you're even meant to do this thing called "life".

But one day, you're going to look back on everything that you've made from your life and I want you to feel happy and whole. I want you to be proud of the person you've made yourself into. I want you to stand by all of those repulsive mistakes and fatal errors that made you cry. All of the things that molded you into the beautiful human being that you are today.

I know it sounds cliche and I know you're wondering why I'm being so brutally honest with you but the truth is, I've been through it. I've grown up and matured. I've watched how things can go from good to horrible within seconds.

I've watched how quickly things change and how the choices we make impact our lives. But I never want you to feel like you're not doing enough because you are. You're doing the best you can and that's all that anyone can ask for. So stop beating yourself up and let yourself be happy.

Be happy that you're alive. Be happy that you're living in this world, making a steady difference. Be happy that you have a chance to be someone and something. Never become discouraged. I know that you're going to turn out just fine.

You'll go to the college you had always planned on attending and you'll end up finding a major you're head over heels for. You'll dump that boy who's holding you back and you'll rid yourself of the friends who brought nothing but nonsense to your life.

You'll figure it all out. I know this for a fact. Because I've watched you grow and flourish and I'm nothing but proud. Stay on this path you're on, you're headed for nothing but greatness kid.

With much love,

You