Dear Me? Is that how I should start this? Sure.

Dear Me,

I hope even though you are in my past, you are happy with how my life has turned around. From the moment dad passed, life was a struggle. It was a struggle to laugh and smile, just to be happy.

We did choose some terrible guys to date. But that is okay, cause you are dating a man who really loves you! (weird, right? Someone actually putting up with and enjoying how weird you are!) That is a shocker. Oh, best part? His whole family adores you. They remind you of it all the time.

I know the choices we made, may have been damaging to our mental health, and we may have learned things the hard way but it has made us stronger, braver, and wiser.

As weird as this is, writing a letter to my younger self, who will never see this...I am kind of writing this for myself now. As a reminder that I did it. I finally got to a point in my life where I am happy.

I struggled and fought for years with depression and anxiety caused by things that I could have avoided in some ways, others not so much but did not.

You work and go to school now, which is a lot. Not many people do it anymore, but you are which is something you should be proud of.

You're doing well with your classes, with work and balancing life. You're starting to work out and be healthier.

You have come very far from where you were. You're supported by some amazing people, with a man who loves you and cares for you. He's a hard worker which is also new to us. You are going to school for something you thought you could only dream of doing for a job, and working hard to have an income.

You're doing great. Be proud.

We got this teenage me and now adult me.

Much Love,

Me