Letters To My Younger Self

Dear Younger Self, Eat more broccoli--you'll love it by the time you're 18, and it's healthier for you than chocolate anyway. Don't lie so much. It's not becoming. Stop dying your hair! All the things you think you'll grow out of, you won't, and all the people you'll "die without" in high school you'll be glad to be rid of once you're 20. It's okay to cry--but don't forget to laugh, hon. Life is a blessing. Never forget that.
		Dear YS, I know you're scared. That's why you have to do it.
Dear Younger Self, It does seem like once we make the big changes that everything else should naturally fall into place and be/feel perfect. Give yourself time to adjust to all the new things. Remember that you have a WHOLE LIFETIME to discover what "balance" means to you. Oh, and guess what? It will all change from moment to moment every day! There's never going to be one sentence that sums you up forever. It's ever-changing. Honor that you are a living creature who is evolving, and do your best to experience what's happening right NOW. And now. And now. I know it feels like a struggle right now, and from time to time it will be. Patience, dear one. And a huge amount of kindness toward yourself is needed. We are all of us attempting to strike a balance in our lives. A balance between our inner and outer worlds. Maybe something you can do is to just make tiny tiny tiny promises to yourself. Like, promise that you will sit with your eyes closed for ten minutes after you get home from work--just do little PURPOSEFUL things for yourself.
Dear YS, Life always throws curve balls - until you're used to catching them and then it sends you fast balls straight over the plate. It's okay - you wouldn't like life if it was boring and predictable.		Magical Younger Self, Love isn't choreographed. It's chaotic, hectic, wonderful, and painful all at once. But it's so worth it!

Dear younger self, First off you are ENOUGH! You always have been. Don't listen to the small minds out there saying you need this or have to do that or be this in order to matter. The only person you need to please is yourself. Listen carefully to your inner self. She knows what can make your soul and heart soar with delight and awe. Life is not about working or getting. It is about the paths you choose to trudge down, learning from the falls and experiencing the bliss at the top of the mountain. I love you, you are perfect and always will be.....no matter what you do.
	Dear 6-year-old-self: Wedging yourself between Grandpa’s chair and the foot rest and then trying to fling yourself out without moving either one WILL NOT WORK. But if you must experience the laws of physics for yourself, at least move the plant holder on the left with the long, thin bars to avoid hearing the sickening crack of your wrist breaking against it.
Dear 13-year-old self: I know it seems important to try to be popular. But ignoring the nerdy kids who actually talk to you while you long to be recognized by the cool kids will only leave you with no friends at all.	Dear Younger Self, If you love one person but feel in love with another, recognize that the in love euphoria always wears off and this seldom means you're with the wrong person. Try not to distract yourself when the going gets tough.
	Dear YS, Take lots of art classes. Especially if you think you can't draw. If there is something you don't like about the teacher, trust that this isn't the right teacher for you. The right teachers for you will not direct you, they will guide you with love. And no, you don't have to be left-handed to be a great artist!
	Dear Beautiful Younger Self, There is nothing wrong with waiting to have sex. Having sex doesn't make you a "woman" and having sex only makes you more desirable to the wrong boys. Before you have sex you're going to regret that you're a virgin. After you let this happen by default at age 16, you're going to regret you did it so young. I know you're curious, but know that curiosity feels a lot better than guilt, shame, and fear of pregnancy. Ask yourself why you want to do this. If the answers are "because my best friend has" and "because it seems like a good idea" - then know these are good reasons to wait. You are beautiful and perfect - regardless of whether you are having sex - or not.

Do you have something to tell your younger self? "submissions at berealmag dot com".