Dear Younger Self,
Life sure is crazy. Right now, you are probably impatiently waiting for your favorite show to come on while Mom makes mac and cheese. These two things are probably a big deal in your life at the moment, and that is a good thing. Someday you are going to have to face some much greater challenges. You are going to have to leave home and learn to live on your own, and there will be many bumps in your path along the way. I’m here to tell you that everything will be alright in the end, but it will not always be easy.
You are not a bad person. This, you need to remember. You are going to come across people who seem to like you at first and then completely flip on you. This is not your fault. Don’t ever change yourself because of the way someone else thinks of you. Be a person that you are proud to be and ignore those who can’t handle who you are. Luckily, you will have some pretty incredible people in your life, and they will make all of the challenges easier.
Keep working hard. I know that from the first day of kindergarten you have been working as hard as you can in school. Don’t ever let go of that, even if it makes you a nerd. Trust me, things will work out in the end. I would tell you to learn to take it easy on yourself from time to time, but I still haven’t quite figured out how to do that, so I’ll have to let you know when I do.
All I really want to say is that I know things will not be easy. In reality, no one has an “easy” life. But in any case, you should know that you are loved by so many and that you will always make it through. You will face some hard times; you will learn what it means to grieve and to feel pain, but you will also learn how to pick yourself back up and move forward. Appreciate where you are. You have an incredible family, and you should never take advantage of your time with them. You might be thinking that it would be nice to be where I am already, but I will tell you right now that I often wish to go back and be you. Enjoy this time, and know that you can and will do everything you set your mind to.
Sincerely,
Your Older Self
