A letter to my younger self.
Hi,
It’s me again.
I was wondering what to write for my next blog. Like every other average adult, I consume way too much social media. And once again, I came across a reel that asked:
“If given a chance, what would you say to your younger self?”
Umm… I have a lot to say.
But then I thought, why not write it down here? Of course, I’m not going to reveal too much about my personal life because privacy is power but I will share a piece of my heart. Something I really needed to hear back then. Something I wish someone had told me. But no one did.
So, here it goes.
I was an extroverted kid. I still am. But somehow, I could never express what was really happening inside me or what I was truly feeling.
Honestly, I was scared of being judged. I always believed people wouldn’t understand me.
And yes, I’ll admit- I’m a very needy person in an emotional way. I crave emotional support.
I used to write journals. I still have three big ones from my teenage years.
Now when I read them, I sometimes laugh at how silly I was, but at the same time, I feel bad for the girl who went through all of that alone.
If I could meet my teenage self today, I’d tell her,
“Brooo, we’ve grown so much over the years like literally! But don’t get too excited, we’re still kinda stupid.”
So here’s a little letter:
Dear Younger Self,
I hope this letter finds you well.
I know how much you’re struggling right now, and as your future self, I want to share some words of wisdom with you.
I wish someone had said all this to me when I needed it the most. But now, I’m here to give you the guidance, love, and assurance that you so desperately seek.
I know everything feels overwhelming right now.
It probably seems like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your tiny shoulders. But, baby girl this is nothing.
You’re going to face tougher days, and you’ll get through those too.
The uncertainties, the insecurities they make you question your worth.
But let me tell you something: You are worthy of love, happiness, and success. Always.
First of all it’s okay to make mistakes.
Lol, I still make a hell lot of them.
Imperfections are beautiful. And you, my dear, are imperfectly perfect.
Whatever you’re going through, whatever mistakes you’ve made they do not define you.
Learn from them. I’m still learning too.
I remember the times you wished for death.
That was… really stupid of us.
Be kind to yourself. It’s a cruel world out there unforgiving and harsh. But never, ever change for anyone.
They’re not worth it. You’re just fine the way you are.
Celebrate your wins even the little ones.
Remember how happy you were when you won that 500-meter race in school?
Why didn’t you write that in your journal? Why didn’t you celebrate that moment?
Don’t do that again.
Don’t be so hard on yourself when things don’t go as planned.
Trust me I’m still learning this, and you should start learning it too.
Friendships and relationships will come and go.
That guy you’re crying over right now?
Yeah, we broke up 7 years ago.
And those friends? None of them are around anymore except Sham. She’s still a sweetheart.
Now, we’ve found people who get us. People who appreciate us people who don’t judge.
So, let go of the toxic connections.
Don’t hold on to what drains your energy.
True friends will be there in your darkest hours and your brightest moments.
The world may feel big and intimidating, but there are people who care.
Mom and Dad are not your enemies, you silly girl.
Soon, you’ll realize no one in the world loves you more than they do.
And you’ll crave that love like never before.
I know self-doubt and insecurity follow you around like shadows.
You compare yourself to others and feel like you don’t belong.
I still feel that way sometimes but I’m working on it.
And one day, you’ll stop feeling that too.
Let me tell you something important , you are unique.
And that, my love, is your biggest strength.
Embrace your individuality.
Celebrate what makes you you.
I know it’s hard to believe right now, but life will get better.
You’ll overcome things that feel impossible today.
You’ll grow stronger.
You’ll shine brighter.
Embrace the journey- the highs and the lows.
I am so proud of us.
So proud of everything we’ve done, of where we are now.
We did this. On our own.
But we still have a long way to go. And that’s okay.
Everything is going to be alright.
I just want to hug you.
So remember, my younger self:
You are capable. You are worthy. And you are enough.
Believe in yourself and the world will open doors you never imagined.
With all my love and constant support,
Your older, wiser self
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ReplyDeleteYour story of life is different from an average person but at the end you are matured to understand things...
ReplyDeleteWow, I can truly feel the emotion in your writing. Sharing something so personal in the public domain requires immense courage.
ReplyDeleteI won’t pretend to know if your life was full of struggle because I don’t know you. Even if I did, I might not fully grasp or feel those emotions the way you did. We each carry our own stories. Still, the reason I’m writing this is because I’ve often wondered why we want to share wisdom with our younger selves. Yes, those were painful years, but I believe those times shaped us, prepared us for the challenges we face now, and helped us grow. They made us more mature and allowed us to focus on something bigger—like working on ourselves. We are all works in progress, after all.
So, in my opinion, instead of telling our younger selves what we would have loved to hear, it might be more powerful to say, “I’m proud of you.” Proud of that younger version who endured those emotions and experiences and became someone stronger, someone more self-aware.
Anyway, that’s just my perspective. I really appreciated what you wrote. It resonated with me in a way that helped me understand something I might not have grasped otherwise.