Dear younger me,
You are going to be ok, but right now, everything sucks.
Yeah, you probably weren’t expecting me to say that now were you? I must admit, back when I was 15, nothing went my way. My family was falling apart, I had to move out of my childhood home, school was a mess, and I was just not sure what path to go down. I was at a crossroads, constantly.
On top of all that, I was an awkward, deeply insecure teenage girl who just so desperately wanted to fit in. I did everything I could to roll with the punches- even at times embarrassing myself just to get a laugh out of others. It was easier to be laughing alongside others than to be the one laughed at for a change.
Hey kid, I feel you. You’re right. Nothing is going your way, and won’t for quite some time. Sorry to be a party pooper! Major roadblocks, heartbreaks, and challenges will make you question everything.
However, ten years later, many things have changed for us. It’s ok to not have it all figured out yet.
You’d be shocked to know that I’ve donated the iconic oversized TNA Bag and Ugg boots, and moved on to more sensible (and comfortable) outfit choices.
Truthfully, if I could go back in time and tell you a couple of things- there are a few nuggets of information that come to mind. And no, not about fashion faux-pas- I’ll let you learn that on your own.
Don’t Grow Up too Quickly.
Slow down, be patient. I know you’re the oldest child and your parents have recently separated, leaving you to need to step up and contribute more at home. You gave up some of the most carefree years of your life wishing you could be somewhere else, being someone else. It’s not your fault that things happened the way they did. I wish I could have told you to breathe and enjoy the little moments while they were happening.
Be Unapologetically Yourself.
Stop comparing yourself to others. It will do irreparable damage to you going forward in your teens and early twenties. You are yourself, and nobody else can be you. In a room full of people who are cookie-cutter versions of each other, you always stood out despite putting in tremendous effort to assimilate. I know this was incredibly hard for you during this time, but eventually, you learned to just be yourself.
And it’s worked out pretty amazing.
You are intelligent, a quick learner who works harder than most, and you are unbelievably persistent despite the endless roadblocks life throws at you.
Stop Settling
You’ve done a great job in being supportive of the wrong people. At fifteen, I wish you would have known that the people you would surround yourself with were not good for you. When you’re young, you’re naive. I don’t blame you for thinking the best of people, I still do that to this day. I’ve learned to establish boundaries and cut ties when someone crosses them.
I know it may seem hard to think the circle you have around you may not be the best for you, but you end up moving on to bigger and better. The people you concern yourself with end up being irrelevant in your life,
Never Limit Yourself
This was one piece of advice that I wish someone told me sooner. Just because you weren’t the highest achieving student didn’t mean you weren’t worthy of getting an education. Being told that you were not “university material” by guidance counsellors and teachers didn’t help. You beat the odds and end up being very successful. Even during university, you were able to keep yourself afloat and finish strong. You’ve defied all the odds and continued to prevail into your adult life. You didn’t let the comments get to you, and thank goodness for that. Stepping out of your comfort zone has proven to pay off tenfold. I wish I could have told you sooner to apply yourself more and not listen to the doubt.
Dear younger me, be grateful for all you have. Others wish they could be you, and you don’t even realize it.
Stop being scared, it’ll all work out. Nothing is forever. Live in the moment and try your hardest every single day. You will fight your way through this, and be successful in your early adulthood.
Your pain will have a purpose. Nothing goes without a reason. The lessons you learned in the last ten years shaped you into a better person.
If I could tell you one thing only, it’s that God has big plans for you. It may not seem like it, but the many tears you shed were all seen. Your life will be filled with amazing opportunities. Doors will open that you never could imagine would. You will do amazing things, and achieve more and more with each passing year. Every day on this earth is a gift, cherish it.
Be grateful, keep being kind, and never stray off the path that you always knew you were worthy of walking down.
xo,
