Letters To My Younger Self
Dear Younger Self,
I know it can be hard to remember everything you’ve been through. I want you to know that this is not your fault and things will get better slowly but surely. You’re still young so try and keep a smile on your face for as long as humanly possible. Get out there and enjoy the world around you! Here are a few things I’d like you to remember.
1. The Bad Times Will End
One day, suddenly and unexpectedly, just as a firework explodes, everything will be better. You won’t understand now, but one day you’ll look back at this time in your life with fondness. Until then, try and see the light at the end of the tunnel; there is always something to make you smile! (You’ll find it looking up at the stars.)
2. Take Care Of Yourself Now So It’s Easier, Later On
I know that everyone tells you to take care of yourself right now, but this is important for later down the line when it counts. Don’t put off happiness or feeling good about yourself until you lose weight. I promise you, and it won’t make you feel better in the long run. You don’t owe anybody else your happiness; please remember that.
3. Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway
I still struggle with this, but it is one of the most important things to learn in life! Don’t be afraid to fall flat on your face; because even if you fail, you know that you can handle yourself and try again (hopefully better). Also, don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself because everyone does it, and it’s how we learn!
4. Stop Trying To Be Perfect All The Time
Don’t chase perfection; nobody knows what it is all. Even people who seem perfect mess up sometimes. Perfection is something you create yourself, and it’s only worth chasing because of the feelings it brings out in you.
5. You Can’t Please Everyone
It’ll happen one day; somebody will tell you that you’re no good, that they don’t like what you do, or why you act the way you do, etc. Don’t let these comments hurt or bother you too much because there are people out there who love and adore everything about you (but they might need reminding now and again).
6. Your Advice Will Get Sucked Up And Pooped Back Out The Other End
This isn’t your fault, but someone will take one piece of advice from your heart-to-heart conversation and make a whole new meaning to the direction you offered. This has been happening ever since the beginning of time but it’s also important to remember that people learn in different ways and sometimes need their own experiences!
7. You Will Have To Break Some Rules In The Future
This might be at work or school, but rules are rules for a reason. If you don’t break them, something terrible will happen – usually at least – so know when to say enough is enough and make a stand for yourself. Don’t worry about what other people think because if it were all about them, there wouldn’t be any wars going on right now, would there?
8. You Will Make Mistakes And Get Upset About Them
Sometimes, it’ll feel like all your mistakes coincide at the wrong time, but it’s important not to beat yourself up over something you can’t change. It takes time to get back on track, so remember why you’re good at what you do!
9. You Don’t Have To Save The World
At some point or other, somebody will tell you how ‘strong’ or ‘brave’ you are for spreading the love around. However, just because someone else needs help doesn’t mean that you have to offer it all the time; take care of yourself too! Nobody wants to see anyone fade away into nothingness…
10. Stop Arguing With Yourself!
You’ll spend years feeling guilty about things that happened ten years ago; don’t waste your energy on things that can’t be fixed. You have a clean slate for a reason, so start fresh and move forward!
11. Don’t Fall For The Hype
Hype will get you nowhere, ever. Try your hardest not to compare yourself to others because it only leads to disaster. People create their destinies, and that’s what makes them who they are today! You can never take away from somebody else’s happiness, no matter how hard you try.
12. Don’t Let Stress Get To Your Head
It’ll happen at some point or another but try not to let stress get the better of you because when responsibilities pile up, it’s essential to deal with things once and once only before moving on! There will always be something nagging away at the back of your mind, so avoid it as much as you can until you have time for it!
13. Try To Find A Hobby That Makes You Happy
It doesn’t matter what it is; try to find something that makes your heart tick. Let’s face it, more bad things happen in life than good ones, so when you start feeling down about yourself, take some time out and do something fun.
14. It’s OK To Change Your Mind Sometimes
People sometimes jump from one thing to another, but they eventually learn how to stay still long enough to make sense of their lives! Try not to worry about what people think; if they love you, chances are they will wait around while you figure things out.
15. You Will Always Be A Work In Progress
You’ll never stop growing and learning, so try to be a little more patient with yourself! Imagine the world if every person had a big ego and thought they were better than everyone else – it would be an absolute mess! Nobody will ever have all the answers, but you have to face some harsh realities in life before you start realizing your potential (and that’s OK).
Stay strong, my younger-self; these things will come to pass sooner or later… And remember, everybody makes mistakes sometimes… It’s what you do after them that counts!
If you’ve ever felt like your life is spiraling out of control, it may be time to step back and take a moment for yourself. You deserve to give yourself permission to relax and enjoy the moments that make up your day-to-day life. It can seem daunting at first, but as with any new challenge in life, all you need is an open mind and willingness to learn how things work on this side of adulthood. As we grow older our minds change too; we start seeing opportunities instead of problems or obstacles.