A Resignation Letter My Younger Self Should Have Written

Dear 27-Year-Old Me,

I'm writing this letter on behalf of You. Me, I mean. I am you, in the future. I'm 34, and I've been through all the things that you're going to experience. And I know exactly what's on your mind.

You're thinking about writing this resignation letter to yourself.

To us.

But you will not.

That's why I am writing it now, 7 years later.

Someone told me once that the average age of a cell in a human body is 7 years. If that is true, I am a completely different person from you. I feel like it, but the same time no. I am still you.

But I'm different enough to know better now - all the things you're considering now.

Quitting.

To quit being YOU. Or rather, who you're pretending to be.

In the past 7 years, I learned that it wasn't worth to accept this position you took - the people pleaser. The role of someone who puts everyone's needs in front of hers, who wears a mask all day to be someone others wanted to see. I know, even you wanted to see a different face in the mirror.

The more you wore the mask, the more you didn't want to take it off, am I right?

Of course, I am.

Instead of playing an alter-ego that used up all your energy, you should have quit there and then. I know you wanted. I am not mad at you for not doing it.

But then your boyfriend asked you to choose between him and your dreams, you couldn't make the right choice. I know he called you and your dreams ridiculous and told you that you'll fail, and if you don't choose him you'll end up alone forever. He made you believe this was your last chance, but it wasn't.

You desperately wanted to be loved, and no one can blame you for that. So instead of learning to give that love to yourself, you signed up for the promise of someone who never intended to give it to you.

But you need to know that I love you, and you'll never be alone ever again because you've got me.

The problem was that you didn't love yourself. But it's okay, because together, we learned to love the person hiding under the mask. If you would know! I don't even wear it anymore. Can you imagine that?

And it's all because of you! You did the hard work to become me, the version of you who doesn't need to hide her real self anymore. And I am so proud of you for that. I hope you're proud of me, too. Well, who you will become. After all, the mistakes don't matter. I learned to choose myself the hard way.

But sometimes I wonder how my life would be now, if you had written this resignation letter back in the day. Where would we be? What kind of life we would lead? Who would be on our side?

But then, I wouldn't change where I am right now for all the money in the world. I have an amazing life. It looks nothing like the one you gave up for that asshole (sorry for the spoiler, but you'll see) but it certainly feels right.

It's all thanks to you!

If you would have written this resignation letter 7 years ago, I wouldn't be here. So thank you! Thank you for making mistakes, for making the wrong choices, for going after the wrong people. Without that I wouldn't be where I am now. We wouldn't be where we are now, you'll see. You gonna love it!

And that is why I am writing this resignation letter in your name.

Because today, I quit forever.

I quit being the people pleaser. I quit placing others above me. I quit not showing up for myself. I quit hating myself for not meeting the expectations of others. I quit following those who never been where I want to go, just because their instructions are louder. I quit trying to be there for people who don't even care about me. I quit underestimating myself and not believing in me. I quit not being my authentic self. I quit fitting into boxes that aren't my size. Hell, I even quit all the boxes!

Well, that's what you should have said, when that dude asked you to choose: "No sir, I quit."

I quit not choosing myself, and my dreams, however ridiculous they might be.

But the same time, let's apply for a new position.

Let's apply to be the person who knows her worth, who loves herself, who stands up for herself and those who can't stand up for themselves. Let's apply for the role of the woman who's always kind, because she knows how hard it is to be a person in today's world. Let's apply for the position of the wild one, who dares to walk the path less taken. Let's even apply to be the person who creates the path - since that's our job now, anyway. (Yeah, you'd never guess, right? You run your own forestry business. Shit, I should stop spoiling our life to you.)

And most importantly: let's apply to be the person we always were.

That little girl we used to be? Do you remember her?

The one with the messy hair, her hands always muddy from making witch potions? The girl who loved to write and wanted to save all the animals of the world? Let's be her again. She's our true self, and I already quit putting a mask on her.

That's all I have to say.

Goodbye for now, but not for long. I'm gonna be around if you need me.

Love,

Imola