Dear Younger Me,
Remember to love yourself. Don’t listen to them. Pretend you don’t notice the secret stares and snickers as you pass by. Keep your head up. Stop looking in the mirror and justifying their words. Stop pulling at your skin and picking apart your appearance. Make your flaws your strength.
It’s OK to be hurt, but don’t keep it all to yourself. Open up. Speak up. There will be people that won’t let you down. Pull the pieces together and move on. Be strong for yourself.
An A isn’t everything. It won’t prove that you’re better than anyone. Show them that you’re more than a grade or a victim. Be the inspirer.
Have fun. Don’t grow up so fast. None of it will happen again, so live. Think about today instead of tomorrow. Stop asking when tomorrow will be here; there’s always another day ahead. Face today with a plan of doing anything and everything.
Love everyone. Love your friends, your enemies and your friends who become enemies. Hatred will only ruin them and you. When hate is tempting, remember all that you have to love.
Change something every day. Whether it’s your clothes, routine or attitude, change yourself to change your world. Experiencing something new every day will help you to engage yourself in the world.
Go talk to the kid alone in the corner. She’ll become your best friend. Better yet, talk to every kid who’s alone. That’s going to be you one day. Show them love when no one else will.
That friend who jokingly makes fun of you isn’t your friend. Love her and try to show her that hate does not make a friendship. If she won’t change, wish her good luck and save yourself. You can’t save everyone. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.
Believe in yourself. No one else can as much as you. If you learn to trust yourself, you can make a much larger impact then you ever could imagine. Let the doubt go. Insecurities can only push you to work harder, so embrace them.
Never let anyone tell you to be less emotional. Connecting with people is a strength; you see another side of people that no one else does. Use it. Help people by understanding their pain, happiness and anxiety. Reach them.
Hold onto your optimism, it’s infectious. Keep believing in the world, despite the harsh and cruel nature you see in it. Instead, see the beauty and kindness. Show it to others. Unite them in the cause of hope; it will help you to remain true to yourself.
Maybe, after all, this isn’t a letter to my old self, but my future self. I’m still struggling with these problems. Putting one foot forward doesn’t mean that you can’t take five steps back. Now is the time to change. So take the time to change yourself and then maybe you just might be able to change the world.
Sincerely,
Present You
