Dear Younger Me

Dear Younger Me,

Take a deep breath. Slow down. Stop the continuous worry about where your future may lead you. I know it may seem important, and it is, but worrying about the future will only lead you to miss out on the present. Of course, I remember the excitement that came with planning your one-day dog shelter and studying the anatomy of a dog at age nine, but do not stress yourself with unnecessary factors. When you push yourself to the fullest of your potential, always remember that joy and happiness must come along with you if you are to be the best you can be. So take a breath … the world is not going to end if you don’t know the step-by-step layout of what your life is going to look like.

Younger me, I am proud of you. You have stood up for yourself and your beliefs even in the most trying of situations. Even at age 12, you were never hindered in your faith as you were tested by those closest to you, friends who attempted to stain your soul with the culture of the modern world. I know you may not think so, but it was worth it, and it will give you the strength to continue to defend your beliefs indefinitely. People are always going to judge you, or bully you, or attempt to coerce you, or maybe they will do nothing at all and simply ignore you. None of this is acceptable, but you must stay true to yourself and find people who will not degrade you due to your beliefs but lift you up instead.

Younger me, do not stop using your failures as advantages. I know at times it is difficult and the self-doubt cannot rid itself, but you must keep your head up no matter the tribulations. You must continue imagining your full, realistic, individual potential—after all, no other person can be you. Use your failures as a pathway to success and view them not as disappointments but as lessons. Do this, and any obstacle you face will crumble at the sight of such an empowered individual.

Younger me, being unique is not a negative thing. People do not flock to you, and I cannot say that has changed with age. However, look at the world around you: Those who constantly have people at their side or are surrounded by friends take the company and adoration to their advantage. Attention becomes a necessity, and once that attention is gone, they may fall inward on themselves due to a lack of outside support. That will not happen to you. You are a strong-willed individual, and you do not let others guide your life. Nevertheless, you will find your people—family and friends—who will bring joy and excitement to your life. I am thankful for that, and I know you will be too.

Younger me, it was a long road, but you eventually found your place in the world—not leading the way for a mass of people, but sitting at your desk, with your “head in the clouds and your hands on the keyboard,” as Marissa Meyer would put it. Storytelling will not only lead you to enjoyment but also reward and the formation of a growth mindset. So, younger me, keep on writing, keep on breathing, and keep on being you, because your perseverance and drive will lead you through any minefield life takes you.

“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, I’ll always get up after I fall. And whether I run, walk, or have to crawl, I’ll set my goals and achieve them all.”