Dear Me: A Letter to My Younger Self

Dear Younger Me,

I know this might sound strange—receiving a letter from the future—but trust me, I’ve lived through everything you’re experiencing right now and so much more. I’m writing this not to spoil the journey ahead, but to gently walk you through some truths I wish someone had shared with me when I was young.

Right now, you're likely in your late teens or early twenties, caught between feeling the world is both impossibly huge and yet too small for your dreams. You’re carrying the weight of your own hopes, and often the expectations of others too, terrified of making mistakes. But here’s the first truth I want to share with you:

It’s okay not to have everything figured out.

I know it feels like everyone else has a clear plan, that they know exactly what they’re doing while you seem to be fumbling through life. But let me tell you a little secret—most people don’t have it figured out either. It looks like they do, but behind the smiles and success stories, they are figuring it out as they go, just like you.

“Almost no one knows exactly what they're doing. Even those who seem to have it all together are just taking it one day at a time.”

The truth is, life is not a straight line. You’re going to take paths you never imagined. You'll accept jobs that seem strange at first, but they’ll teach you valuable skills you never expected. You'll say yes to opportunities that terrify you, only to realize later that they were the best decisions you could have made.

But remember, you don’t need to have all the answers right now. Life will give you plenty of chances to learn, grow, and adjustments. It’s okay to take detours. It’s okay to change direction. You don’t have to have the perfect plan in place. Life is less about having everything figured out and more about embracing the unknown with courage.

You’re going to fail. And I promise you, that’s not a bad thing.

You’ll face failure more times than you can count. Some days, it’ll feel like the world is crashing down around you. But here’s the most important thing I can tell you about failure:

“Don’t run from it. Embrace it. Let it shape you, not define you.”

Failure is one of the best teachers you’ll ever have. It’s the fire that refines you. Every time you fall, you’ll learn something essential about yourself, and those lessons will help you rise stronger and wiser. When you face setbacks, don’t ask, “Why is this happening to me?” Instead, ask, “What is this teaching me?”

Failure isn’t the end. It’s just part of the process. Every failure, no matter how devastating it may seem at the time, is moving you closer to who you are meant to be.

You will experience pain. Set example of forgiveness.

People will hurt you—some unknowingly, others intentionally. There will be betrayals, disappointments, and heartbreak. And it will sting. But listen to me when I say:

“Forgive them. Not because they deserve it, but because you deserve peace.”

Forgiveness isn’t about letting people off the hook for their actions. It’s about freeing yourself from the weight of resentment. It’s about releasing what you cannot control, making peace with the past, and allowing yourself to move forward without carrying that burden.

And, please, forgive yourself. You will make choices that you’ll wish you could undo, but remember, you cannot change the past. What you can do is learn from it. Use your mistakes as fuel to keep going, to become better, stronger, and more compassionate. You’re not perfect, and that’s more than okay. You are human, and that’s beautiful.

Love will find you. And it will teach you a lot about yourself.

You will fall in love. Maybe more than once. And no, it won’t always look like the fairy tales. Sometimes love will come slowly, like a quiet, steady flame. Other times, it will burn fiercely, and you’ll wonder if it’s even real. But love will change you.

“You’ll learn the difference between love and need, between attachment and connection, between a passionate spark and a slow-burning fire.”

Love isn’t easy. It will challenge you to face your fears, your insecurities, and your deepest vulnerabilities. But it will also open your heart in ways you never expected. And yes, you’ll experience heartache. But even through the pain, you’ll learn to love yourself in ways you never thought possible. You’ll discover that being whole and happy on your own is just as important as sharing your life with someone else.

Stop waiting for the "perfect time."

There’s no such thing. Don’t wait for life to hand you the “right” moment. The best time to act is always now.

“Life doesn’t hand you a roadmap with a big red X that says ‘This is the perfect moment.’ You make the moment right by showing up for it.”

Don’t wait for permission, don’t wait for the stars to align. The time to start is now. Whatever you’ve been putting off—whether it’s a dream, a trip, a conversation—take that step. The clock is ticking, and if you keep waiting for the “perfect” time, you might just miss the beautiful moments life has in store for you.

Say “I love you” today.

Take that photo today. Write that story today. Don’t wait for tomorrow, because tomorrow is never promised. Fear will always be there. It’s part of the journey.

“What you’re really afraid of isn’t failure—it’s being seen trying. But you should do it anyway.”

Fear will always try to keep you in your comfort zone. It will whisper that you’re not good enough, that you’re not ready, that you’ll fail. But don’t let it stop you. Fear isn’t your enemy. It’s your mind trying to protect you from the unknown. Embrace it, walk with it, and know that every time you push through it, you’re growing.

Take care of your body. It’s the only one you’ve got.

“That body of yours is carrying you through all the highs and lows. Be kinder to it.”

You’ll push your body too hard, ignore its needs, and sometimes forget to care for it properly. But remember, it’s the only vessel you have. Rest when you need to. Drink plenty of water. Move, not because you want to change how you look, but because you want to honour your body for all it does for you.

Learn to enjoy your own company.

“Your own company will become your greatest strength.”

You’ll be surrounded by people at times, but some of your most profound moments will come when you are alone with your thoughts. Don’t fear solitude. Embrace it. It’s where you’ll find clarity, grow, and reconnect with the parts of yourself you might have forgotten.

Read more. Write more. Listen more. Not just to gather information, but to truly connect.

“Stories will teach you to be human in ways facts never could.”

Books will expand your view of the world. Writing will help you understand your own heart. Listening will deepen your connection with others. Each of these will help you navigate life with a richer understanding of who you are and what it means to be truly alive.

You’re not behind. You’re not broken. You’re becoming.

Becoming isn’t meant to be neat or picture-perfect. It’s messy, wild, and beautifully human.

“You’ll be tender and strong, lost and focused, afraid and courageous—all at once.”

Let that be enough. Your journey is your own. Don’t compare it to anyone else’s. There’s no need to race. Take your time. Keep going. One day, you’ll look back and realize:

“I thought I’d break. But instead, I built something beautiful.”

Until that day, keep breathing, keep believing, and keep trying.

With love and endless faith,

*Future You*